“For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” – 1 Kings 11:4

The life of Solomon is a powerful reminder of how important it is to always guard your heart and life against the corrosive and blinding power of sin. Most Christians know the happy headlines of Solomon’s life…. Visited by God twice. Built the Temple in Jerusalem. Blessed with unimaginable wisdom. Rewarded with wealth, power, and influence beyond all other kings of Israel. No king ever started better than Solomon. He had EVERYTHING going for him.

Nonetheless, Solomon was blind to sin in one particular area of his life and it cost him (and Israel) terribly. Solomon loved women, especially unbelieving women. He was so faithful in so many areas of his life but when it came to love, sex, and relationships, he completely ignored God’s clear commands. That was enough to unravel his walk with the Lord and ultimately his kingdom. First he tolerated the worship of false gods. Then he supported it. Then he participated in it. As a consequence, God took most of Israel away from Solomon’s son.

In your own life, is there an area of sin that you still hold onto? That you’re unwilling to submit to God’s authority? It’s very common for Christians to do so, particularly in this modern age in which believers are pressured to affirm and celebrate sexual sin that violates God’s commands. The lesson of Solomon’s life is a warning to every believer and every church. Ask God to reveal any of His commands that you may not even realize you’re ignoring. Search the Scriptures carefully. If God shows you an area of sin in your life, confess and repent of it immediately. Don’t go the way of Solomon. #FollowJesus

“If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” – Philippians 1:22-24

Have you matured in your faith and devotion to Jesus to such a degree that you think like Paul did when he wrote these words from prison? Every follower of Jesus should…

On the one hand, you should have absolute confidence in the glorious eternal future that awaits you in Christ’s presence. Jesus has purchased this eternal inheritance for you with His blood. It is God’s gift of grace given to you through faith in His Son. Christ’s resurrection from the dead is the reason you should not fear death but delight in what lays beyond it, eagerly anticipating the day you pass into His presence forever.

And yet, you should also treasure the work He’s prepared for you to do here on earth beforehand. Never grow weary of doing good works that proclaim your hope in Jesus, reveal the love of Jesus, and teach others to follow Jesus. Grow in your relationship and trust in the Lord so that you too can desire to depart but see also the fruitful labor that awaits you until you depart.

Honestly, this is the very best way to live life here on earth… at complete peace with God’s will for your life. Eagerly looking forward to your future with Jesus while joyfully serving Him today and every day. Not doubting God’s purpose or will but embracing it at every moment. Even when you don’t understand. Even when you’d prefer something else. This is the peace and power that comes from knowing Jesus well and also knowing His disciple-making purpose for your life. If you aren’t yet in this place of peace and clarity, devote yourself to drawing nearer to God. Earnestly seek His will for your life on earth. Regularly meditate on the glories of your eternal life in Him. Grow until you can echo these words of Paul. #FollowJesus

“And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” – Ephesians 6:15

In this portion of Ephesians 6, Paul famously tells us to put on the spiritual armor God provides to fight the spiritual battles lurking behind our daily struggles and setbacks. Because Jesus has already won the final victory over Satan on the cross, our assigned task isn’t to defeat the devil, it’s to stand firm in our faith, no matter what happens (see verses 13 and 14). That’s your job, to stand firm today and every day. And God provides all the armor you need to do it.

An essential, but underemphasized, part of that spiritual armor is what’s described here in verse 15: our shoes. Proper footwear is essential for standing firm in close-quarters combat. That was certainly true for the Roman armor Paul uses in these verses to illustrate our spiritual resources in Christ Jesus. The Roman soldier’s sandals enabled them to stand firm in battle on any terrain. And Jesus has given us spiritual shoes like that, if we’re willing to put them on.

What are our spiritual shoes, the foundation of your ability to hold firm against the devil? The assurance of your salvation and reconciliation to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Think about it… once you TRULY understand that you’ve been saved exclusively, totally, completely, 100% as a gift of God’s grace and not a result of your efforts, then you can (and should) have total peace about your relationship with God. Jesus saved you, you didn’t save yourself. He has saved you to the uttermost and will never let go of you. You didn’t earn your salvation, so you can’t un-earn it. You didn’t deserve His love and peace and you can’t un-deserve it.

You have peace with God through Jesus. Your status in Him is completely, totally rock-solid. You don’t have to stress about your standing before the Lord. That gives you peace and strength to boldly, confidently, and joyfully live out your faith. To share your hope in Christ. To serve the Lord boldly and courageously. To do the good works God has prepared for you to do from an unshakable foundation of peace about who you are in Christ and how He loves you! #FollowJesus

“And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” – Ezekiel 36:27

God promised the Holy Spirit hundreds of years before He poured it out onto all believers at Pentecost. If Jesus is your Lord, then you have the Holy Spirit living in you. In this verse, God highlights one of the most important roles the Holy Spirit plays in your life as a follower of Jesus. The Spirit convicts you when you stumble into sin. He makes you feel guilt for your sins so that you’ll quickly repent and confess them to God to receive His forgiveness and resume walking in obedience to God’s commands.

The Holy Spirit is an incredible blessing in your life. He’ll help you live the holy life you’re called to live. But you do have to actually listen to His promptings. When he points out your sins and failures, you need to respond not with anger but with sorrow. You need to respond to His conviction with repentance. Otherwise, you’ll quench the Holy Spirit, limiting His influence and wasting this precious gift of God’s presence in your heart. Walking in the Spirit is a powerful and important part of what it is to truly #FollowJesus

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

Once again, there’s not much to say beyond these glorious words from the Lord! Your salvation is only available as a gift of grace. A gift that’s never earned or deserved. There is absolutely no other way to be saved and there is absolutely nothing you can contribute to your salvation. Jesus did everything for you when He went to the cross to die for your sins.

You have no room to boast in your good deeds or behavior because those aren’t what brought you into a relationship with the Lord. That came only by His loving grace and mercy. Receive the gift for what it is – a gift. Rejoice and be glad in it! Once again, take time to read and re-read these verses, because there’s no other way of salvation for anyone on earth apart from God’s grace given through faith in Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the grace you have received! Then #FollowJesus