Living God's Best

This past Sunday we used the children of Israel as our classroom for learning life lessons. We shared how they were being given the promised land but only needed to possess it. With a downward negative spiral they missed out on what God had for them and many of them died at the border, never living in God's best. Today's bible reading and my time journaling reminded me of last Sunday's message and times in my own life where I missed out on what could have been or what should have been - I missed out on possessing God's best for me. If you have been there too then hopefully the words of David to Solomon will remind you that God has more for you - He has His best!

Scripture:
I Samuel 2: 1 - 4
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' (NIV)

Observation:
The last words of a father to his son are usually the most profound and meaningful. Who better to read from than David who had truly experienced the power and grace of God. A man who had embraced his own desires and realized that sin and disobedience will take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. David was fully qualified to share with Solomon that God's ways are best and that His best can be lived and experienced by all. Solomon is given the conditions to possess God's best and from none better than David.

David says: So be strong, show yourself a man.
Real men and women will observe what God requires. David emphasizes a personal relationship and calls God: Your God. The admonition that David gives will be shuned by some, but not those who have a relationship with God - those who have made Him the Lord of their lives and can call Him, my God. So, Walk in his ways (possess the land), and keep the things He has called you to. David is saying that life works best when we obey God.
Then he moves on to give his son the Results of a life of obedience: You will prosper in all you do and wherever you go.

Application:
When I feel like going my own way, ignoring God or pressing forward without Him, I must remember the words of David to Solomon and blessings that flow out of obedience. May we all strive to be people after God's own heart and possess the life He is calling us to.
Nothing glorifies God more than when we obey Him and nothing feels as good as obedience.
Trust and Obey for there's no other way - to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Prayer:
Dear God, I repent for the times I do things my way. I realize the times I could be inheriting such a great blessing that you are giving into my life - but I miss possessing it for my lack of obedience and trust. May I walk in your way and in your truth and be a man - your man. May my relationship grow with you so that you will be my Lord and my God and not just Lord and God. Give me the courage to embrace your ways and make them mine.
In Jesus' powerful name, Amen.