Day 167

1 Kings 1:1-2:12, Acts 10:23-11:18, Psalms 74:10-17

Now that is some hot water bottle! The bulk of the reading is about Solomon becoming king and we will go on to look at the things that he did as king. The important thing though is that David draws a line under his own rule, he talks to Solomon about all the people he had made promises to, and all the people that Solomon may or may not want to have around him.

It did make me wonder how often we give thanks when the Lord does something, and I mean really give thanks. When Solomon was made king, and the will of God was fulfilled, the people partied like it was the party to end all parties.  The music was so amazing that it shook the city and people could hear and feel it a good few miles away. When we see God working in ways that we want to celebrate, we should not be afraid to give thanks.

We also see the culmination of the conversion of the household of Cornelius and the effect that this has on the rest of the believers. Peter initially gets into a bit of hot water for doing what he did, how dare he baptise a Gentile,  well because God told him to. v44 reminds us of the way the Holy Spirit works – despite us and around us. While Peter is still speaking “the Holy Spirit came on all those who were listening”. “While Peter was speaking”. Not necessarily through what he was saying but possibly quite independent of.  It challenges us to be ready for the Spirit to work and let Him work through and around what we are doing.

The best line though comes right at the end of the Acts reading. “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life”. And in heaven Jesus says “now they get it”. He has been trying to tell them this for his whole ministry but two days in a row now we finally see the penny drop!

Sometimes we need the penny to drop, but God will always keep talking. Do you need to keep listening at the moment?