The easy road is not the call of the sons of God.
This week, we move into John’s gospel and Paul’s instructions to Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews. As we also begin Hebrews, I highly recommend taking time to listen to the entire book throughout the next two weeks, as often as you have time: walking, driving, and allowing the book to settle into your heart through listening.
David finishes his preparation for the Temple and charges Solomon and all of Israel to seek the Lord and act courageously. Solomon next encounters the Lord after David’s death receiving God’s favor and the wisdom to rule.
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GOSPELS
John 1 – 6
This will be our third trip through the gospel of John, written some 60 years after Jesus’ resurrection by John who personalizes the many encounters he had with Jesus. Seeing the Word become flesh and dwelling among us, John allows us to see into the purposes of God through the Son of Man. We hear the call to be born from above, and that the testimony of Jesus must be received, to certify that God is true. The Samaritan woman at the well, in the city of the Samaritans, shows the Father’s will to save those we do not think should be saved.
Jesus heals a man at Bethesda on the Sabbath and then claims He is only doing what He sees His Father doing. This brings persecution and murderous thoughts from the religious. Jesus doesn’t stop, claiming His voice being heard would bring life from the dead; His witness is the Father Himself. In Chapter 6, at the height of His popularity, when the people want to force Him to be king, He dismisses the crowd, sends His disciples out in a boat, and spends the night in prayer on the mountain. The next day an argument grows because of heart motives that are exposed and unbelief that fights against truth. Everyone leaves, even His twelve struggle, but when asked if they too would leave, Peter says, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
EPISTLES
Titus 1 – 3
Titus follows the pattern of 1 Timothy giving qualifications for elders and relationships with older men and young men, and with older women and young women, all wrapped up with final charges to Titus: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
Philemon
Paul has won a runaway slave, named Onesimus, to Christ. Onesimus has become a son to Paul and a faithful helper to Paul in his imprisonment. Philemon is Onesimus’s master and is also a convert of Paul’s. Rather than assume or demand Philemon release Onesimus, Paul sends him back to Philemon giving him the choice of retaining Onesimus as a brother—and placing all charges against him on Paul’s account—or sending him back to help Paul. Here is the gentleness and meekness of Christ.
Hebrews 1 – 5
A letter to the Hebrews, those who knew the law and temple worship. Chapter after chapter God reveals how God has established and set in order this new pattern of the priesthood of Melchizedek in Jesus our Lord. It was necessary for this profound teaching to be laid out line by line (Chapters 1 to 10) to give a biblical account of what had been promised and is now fulfilled.
Chapter 1 shares the great salvation in Jesus our Lord. Chapter 2 shares how the Father made the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings, that through death He has destroyed the devil (who had the power of death) and delivered us from the fear of death. Jesus is our High Priest coming to our aid and giving us a good confession, which is Jesus Himself. Chapters 3 and 4 are our exhortation to not harden hearts into rebellion as Israel did in the wilderness. Instead, the living word of God will divide and discern our hearts into God’s rest. In Chapter 5, Jesus is introduced as the High Priest through an oath: first called to be a Son (Psalm 2) and then a Priest forever (Psalm 110). The author states there is so much to explain but [it is] hard to hear for those whose hearing has become dull… literally, lazy.
HISTORY
1 Chronicles 26 – 29
David continues his preparations for Solomon to build the house of the Lord by setting up the gatekeepers, treasuries, military divisions, leaders of the tribes, and other officials. In Chapter 28, David gathers all the leaders he placed at Jerusalem and tells the story of how he wanted to build God a house and now charges Solomon with the task. David gives Solomon all the plans for the temple, plans he had received by the Spirit. “‘All this,’ said David, ‘the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” (1 Chronicles 28:19)
Chapter 29 is another massive offering of close to $20 billion, the prayer of dedication and blessing of Israel by David, and Solomon is made king a second time and sits on David’s throne. From pride to judgment to humility, repentance, and obedience comes the temple of God, the establishment of Israel, the kingship of Solomon, and the heart of a nation turned to worship, all from the heart of a king who worships God.
2 Chronicles 1 – 4
Solomon has an encounter with God, and from it asks for wisdom which pleases God. He then begins building the temple of God that his father gave him charge to build in the fourth year of his reign and completes it in seven years.
