1 Kings 6:29 “So Solomon decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.”
Having read 1 Kings 6:29, try to envision how Solomon turned a plain wall into something beautiful. As the builder of the Temple, it was more than stone upon stone for him. He wanted to decorate the temple to be beautiful for God as God Himself is described as beautiful. (Ps. 90:17). Thus, as the builder, Solomon was an interior decorator decorating both the outside and the inside of the temple. And when he finished, it was said that “Never before had such beautiful things been seen in Judah.” (1 Chronicles 9:24 NLT)
What is breathtakingly beautiful to you?
In considering 1 Kings 6:29, where Solomon decorated walls to make them beautiful, I would like to place two thoughts before you. One is to consider how God has changed your ugly life as a sinner into something beautiful. At least that is what he did for me. I was a mess. I was covered in filth. Then Jesus came into my life and cleansed me from all unrighteousness with His blood. My mess has been turned into a message of how Jesus Christ changes lives!
The second thought is that we are to be active as interior decorators with our own lives so the gospel is attractive. Titus 2:10 says, “And not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” (NIV) Our behavior is to make the gospel message ATTRACTIVE. The Greek word translated here attractive is a word that gives us our English word “cosmetic.” We, as you know, use cosmetics to make ourselves more attractive. Just as we use cosmetics to make ourselves more attractive to others, we are to put on actions that make the gospel attractive.
So, how are you decorating God’s temple (your life)? Do the words of your mouth make the gospel attractive? Does your temperament make the gospel attractive? (ouch) I think you got the idea. Our actions, as well as inactions, stir up emotions in a lost person to be turned on to the gospel or turned off.
A decorating tip: Just as Solomon decorated the temple wall with flowers, you should have your life decorated with fruits. The world around you, whether saved or lost, should see love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)
Decorate your temple, your life, so the gospel is attractive.
Continue Strong with an attractive temple,
And remember to DATE the Word