BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT IS MERCY? Mercy is when God does not give us the punishment that we deserve. The temple was a place where God met with His people. The people could go there to make sacrifices and worship God. Today, when we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go. We can look to Him for forgiveness and help. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
Moments of distress or pain and moments of rebellion or wandering often function as God’s classroom for His children to learn to trust Him. These experiences force us to either lean in to God or to leave—to turn from God or to trust in God. These moments are not obstacles to our faith but opportunities God provides to grow our faith like no other. In 1 Kings 8:22-53, King Solomon was praying at the dedication of the temple. God had fulfilled His promise to King David, and the people had a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness and provision. In Solomon’s prayer, we see several things He believed about God. Among those, we learn that Solomon believed the only right response to feeling far from God is to turn to God as our only hope and turn toward obedience to the Lord. The temptation for believers when we feel far from God is not to move toward Him but rather to sit at a distance, fearing that what has caused our sense of distance prevents Him from wanting us near. But this is simply not true. Solomon’s prayer reveals that God wants His people near. Even in the midst of rebellion or trial, the Lord is the only One to turn to. When you hit moments of distress, pain, rebellion, or wandering, is your tendency to move away from God or remain at a distance? Do you find yourself turning your focus away from yourself and toward Him? If there is any rebellious way in you, turn toward God’s gracious hand of forgiveness. “LORD God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below, who keeps the gracious covenant with your servants who walk before you with all their heart” (1 Kings 8:23). God wants you near when you wander and wants your heart when you are hurting. Do not doubt Him, for He longs for us to draw near to Him as He has drawn near to us through Christ. Because of the work of Jesus, who drew near to us by humbling Himself, taking on the form of a man and enduring death on a cross, we too can humbly draw near to God. GOSPEL APPLICATION
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BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT IS MERCY? Mercy is when God does not give us the punishment that we deserve. Solomon was a wise king who wanted to do God’s plan. Solomon wasn’t perfect, but God had a plan to give His people a greater and wiser king—His Son, Jesus. Jesus completely trusted God. Jesus surrendered His own life to die on the cross for our sin. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
What exactly do you pray for the next generation? When you ask God to move and work in the coming generations, what is it that you are asking Him to do? You may hope for them to be good and productive citizens. It may be that you hope to see them make good decisions, marry the right person, and raise a godly family. It may be that you hope they will become committed to the local church and even show evidence of their love for God in how they serve others. In 1 Kings 2, we see an incredible example of how to pray for the next generation. Whether your own kids, your future kids, the kids you are investing in through your church, or others that you influence, consider David’s desire. David’s hope for his son demonstrates what we ought to hope and pray for the next generation. The first four verses of 1 Kings 2 contain David’s dying words to his son Solomon. David knew his days were few, and he took the opportunity to call Solomon to what he knew would be best. Ultimately, David told Solomon to grow into a godly man who is faithful to the Lord in every way. Specifically, David called Solomon “to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees.” When you think about the way you pray for the next generation, does it sound like this? Does it sound like the words of a father who knows his child’s only hope is to trust in God and follow Him faithfully? Do our prayers for the next generation stem from a heart that looks toward eternity and kingdom growth? We should want what God wants for our own lives and the lives of the next generation, who we are investing in. Our hope should be that future generations would faithfully follow God as they grow into godly people who are faithful to the Lord in every way. GOSPEL APPLICATION
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT IS GRACE? Grace is when God gives us something good even when we do not deserve it. David confessed his sin and asked God to change his heart so that he would not want to sin again. When we realize our sin, we can confess to God and ask for His forgiveness. Jesus covers our guilt and changes our hearts so we can have life with Him forever MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY: One of the most glorious ways God shows us His grace is through salvation. Though there are many common graces that apply to everyone—life, breath, relationships, and more; salvation is a gift of God’s grace experienced by those who profess faith in Christ. In Psalm 51, David recalled the holiness of God, repenting of his sin, and ultimately seeking to enjoy the nearness of His gracious God once again. In the midst of this confession, David asked God for many things, one of which was to restore to him the joy of salvation. Why, in the middle of this moment of confession and repentance, did David ask God to bring back the joy of salvation? If you’ve ever felt the true weight of your sin, you know that these moments can bring the temptation to lose all joy. Sin can take you to a place that brings misery and heartache. Sin causes us to feel far off from God. In David’s lowest moment, he knew he needed a reminder that through faith in the Lord, he had total forgiveness. David had come to know the depth of his own sin. He understood the implications of the thoughts and actions derived from his wicked heart. And as he discerned these things, he couldn’t help but realize that he needed God’s full forgiveness. And so David asked the Lord to take him back to the foundational truth of God’s salvation. In moments of failure, it is good for us to return to the cross. It is good for us to remember the salvation that God has given us. When we do, we can recall the fullness of God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ—the shed blood of our Savior who has provided what we need for every moment. Would you pray today for God to restore the joy of His salvation to you? Ask God to help you remember, with gladness, the blood Jesus shed to pay for your sin. Jesus takes our sin and completely frees us to live for Him. God is good to give grace, and He is worthy of all praise. GOSPEL APPLICATION
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December 2023
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