2 Chronicles 7:11-12, John 12:48-50
When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. (2 Chronicles 7:11-12 NIV)
After Solomon finished praying, fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifices. It was a sign that God was involved in all that was done and it was acceptable as a shadow of the heavenly temple. The glory of the Lord so filled the temple that the priests could not minister. Everyone fell on their faces and worshipped with the words they had sung earlier, ¡°He is good and His love endures forever.¡± Then Solomon sent they people home and they were full of joy because of all God had done for David and Solomon and for His people. When we know God is at work in our lives, for our good, we can be full of joy. When we see He is involved in our leaders¡¯ lives we can be full of joy for we know they will be leading according to His direction.
Then when all the festivity was over the LORD appeared to Solomon. He promised that He had heard the prayer of Solomon. He gave Solomon the assurance that his eyes and ears would be open toward prayers prayed in that place. Even today the Jews claim this promise, praying at the Western Wall.
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God chose that place for Himself as a temple of sacrifice. Almost 1000 years later on that very hill He would give Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He had indeed chosen that place as a temple of sacrifice. Sometimes when the LORD speaks He has much more in mind than we can fathom. His words are always filled with a depth that is beyond our comprehension. We do as He leads and then He does the impossible and makes our meager labor filled with importance greater than we can imagine. Then He says, ¡°Well done¡±, as if we had a hand in all the greatness He accomplishes. He is good and His love endures forever!
Evening
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. (John 12:48-50 NIV)
The word of Jesus is the word of God. That is why the words of Jesus will judge mankind. When we hear those words we are hearing our Maker. Then we must decide if we will accept or reject the truth of those words. It is not so much a rejection of the person of Jesus as it is the truth that He so perfectly exemplified in word and deed and made known to us.
What an incredible example He set for us in that every word was straight from the Father in the way that the Father would have Him say it. His reputation then was tied to that of the Father. To condemn His words was to condemn the Father. To reject Him was to reject the Father. As you read the Word remember that every word from Christ is straight from the Father, and you must decide whether you will receive or reject them.
The more we walk in the Light, the less there is of us to dislike or like. Our reputation and testimony is increasingly tied to that of the Father. Jesus didn¡¯t feel hurt when people rejected His words, because they were the Father¡¯s words. As we decrease, and He increases in us, we will find there is no need to defend our reputation. If we will follow His example of saying the Father¡¯s words the way the Father shows us, we can have the same freedom to accept rejection.
Does rejection from people trouble you? Increasingly seek to speak the words of the Father that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind the way He would have you say them, and you can find freedom from that fear.
Used with permission.
