The Way of KingsSample

In God’s Presence

This summer, I had a short vacation and had to come home early while my wife and sons remained in Nova Scotia for a while longer. Since my wife is a teacher and has summers “off” (yes, the quotes are appropriate—any teachers know!), it didn’t make sense to have them follow the demands of my job.

While I was home alone, I was productive, but it never felt right. It just wasn’t the same. When my family came home and we were together again, that changed.

It wasn’t just the familiarity, although that was nice. It wasn’t the companionship, though that is good too.

There was simply the feeling that this was how things were supposed to be. My wife and I chose marriage and to have children; we had built a life and a family together, and being together just felt right.

It's actually that way with God, too. We were meant to be with Him. Not simply in the spiritual relationship sense—actually with Him. We were with Him in the Garden of Eden. We will be with Him forever in the Kingdom. It is the normal—the “right”—that we are supposed to have.

God and His people are meant to be together.

We live in a time when that is not possible in the fullest way yet. We are waiting for the Kingdom to come in its fullness so that we can be reunited with Him.

But despite the importance of God’s house being finished and His presence being with His people in today’s verses, there is a strong warning in the rest of this story.

In the verses that follow God’s claiming of the Temple by putting His Name on it, God calls Israel and her descendants to faithfulness to Him.

This is the same space we live in today. We live in the time when God is calling us to faithfulness to Him and His ways.

Men, we can do big things for God—Solomon built a temple!—but that is not the main part of the story. God wants our faithfulness, not just our to-do lists. He wants us to be for Him, not just do.

Prayer: God in Heaven, who calls us to Himself and for Himself, help me remember that You are not only interested in my service but also want me to be faithful to You with my head, heart, and hands. Give me the discipline to do for You and to be for You. Amen.

Reflection: What acts of service are you pursuing for God? In what ways are you trying to be faithful to His calling?