| “So Solomon decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.” – 1 Kings 6:29 (NLT) |
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| Taking the time to DECORATE As I look at this verse and consider the actions of Solomon I try to envision how he turned a plain wall into something incredibly beautiful. As a builder of the Temple, it was more than just stone upon stone for him. He wanted the temple to be beautiful for God Himself is described as beautiful. Solomon’s father David desired to behold the beauty of the Lord. (Psalm 27:4) 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) I am thinking most of us appreciate things that are beautiful. Now the old statement that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is true. My father would be best described as “an ol’ farmer.” He would see a large cornfield and say, “Isn’t that beautiful.” I personally love sunsets. Watching the sunset over the gulf coast is breathtaking to me. As well I love a sunrise. I hope you will pause as you read and consider what you consider to be beautiful. In considering 1 Kings 6:29 about how 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 comes into my life and He 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 that we make the gospel 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. In closing allow me to share a decorating tip. Just as Solomon decorated the temple wall with flowers you should have your life decorated with fruits. The lost world should see love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23) Verse to DATE the Word on June 29 (6/29) is 1 Kings 6:29. It says, “So Solomon decorated all the walls of the inner sanctuary and the main room with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.” (NLT) Decorate your life so the gospel is attractive. Continue Strong as an interior decorator, And remember to DATE the Word |