LivethruJesus

To remain faithful to God, we must commit ourselves to Him fully with humble and sensitive hearts. When Jeroboam (northern king) was confronted with his sin, he was totally unrepentant and God didn’t show him any mercy. On the other hand, when Rehoboam (southern king) and the leaders of Judah were confronted with their sin, they humbled themselves, admitted that they had done wrong, and submitted...

Our sin separates us from God and invites His judgment (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). An unrepentant heart makes us hide from God and everyone associated with Him. Our life becomes a ruse as we try to hide who and what we really are. None of this takes away our sin, helps us escape its consequences, or makes us a different person. It only takes us further away from God. We may convince ourselves th...

We can only follow God if we listen to what He has to say. He speaks to us through the Bible, which is His inspired word to us, and through the Holy Spirit, which is His Spirit talking to ours. We must guard against deception by knowing HIs Word and testing every other word and internal voice against it. When the Bible is unclear to us or doesn't speak directly into our situation, then we pray and...

Instead of realizing God’s power to make him Israel’s king and being thankful for it, Jeroboam was so afraid he would lose the kingdom, that he tried to secure the kingdom for himself by creating his own system of worship contrary to God’s system. He should have trusted God more after seeing Him fulfill His word to him, but instead, he turned away from the Lord and tried to lead everyone else astr...

This is the story of how the nation of Israel got divided into the the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, which was all part of God’s perfect plan. In it we discuss what it means for God to fulfill His plans on this earth and how that practically plays out in people's lives. How do we reconcile the tension between God's sovereignty and our freewill.

Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon has talked about how fleeting and uncertain our lives can be, how little control we have, and how unsatisfying the things of this world are, while pointing us to the eternal, sure satisfaction of a person who trusts in the sovereign God who loves them. Now, he ends by saying that we only get one life, and we don’t need to waste it. Instead, we should li...

So, how do God's promises and prophecies play out in real people's lives. At the end of this lesson, we discuss the tension between God's sovereignty and man's freewill.

Solomon debunks the idea of karma by saying that we are not guaranteed good results when we do good things or bad results when we do bad things. We are responsible for our actions, and it is certainly better to be wise and righteous than to be foolish and wicked, but God is in control of the outcome, and there are some common graces we all receive. So, we should always try to do what is right, not...

Submission is a dirty word in our culture today, but that is largely because it is misunderstood. Biblical submission is not blind or passive. It is wise, intentional, and measured. It values relationships over resistance, persuasion over pressure, and influence over control. It avoids both extremes of blind submission and reckless rebellion without being manipulative. That is what Solomon is desc...

This chapter reads a little more like Proverbs than the previous ones. So, even though there is some logic to its structure, Solomon hits many different topics for us to examine – life and death, pain and pleasure, feeling and avoiding, listening and ignoring, patience and impulsivity, humility and pride, past and present, wisdom and wealth, protection and preservation, control and trust, righteou...

Solomon continues his search for meaning by examining worship, power, and wealth, showing that both careless worship and unchecked greed ultimately leave the soul dissatisfied.

Solomon continues his reflections about life, but shifts his focus from time and eternity to relationships. As he examined all types of societal and relational situations, he concluded that life is best when it is shared with others. In the good times and the bad, we need each other. But he also recognized that even the strongest and best relationships can be fragile and incomplete. No one can fil...

He puts the desire for understanding in our hearts, yet keeps full comprehension just out of reach so that we will continue searching. Since this world ultimately cannot satisfy, we must look up. Because we are limited, we must rely on the One who is infinite. He has placed a longing for the eternal within each one of us, knowing that it will not be fulfilled here on earth.

God created everything with order and purpose. Life has its appointed seasons so that no one thing, whether good or bad, lasts forever. Seasons that we may find troubling or even wrong have their purpose in God, so we just need to trust Him knowing that nothing lasts forever and ask Him to give us discernment to know the proper time for things.

Where do we find purpose and meaning? Do you find meaning in your job, or by gaining knowledge and wisdom. Do you see value in money and possessions or maybe in entertainment and pleasurable experiences? Solomon was the wisest man on earth and he ultimately concluded that all these things were meaningless. Not because he didn’t find satisfaction in a job well done, enjoy fun experiences, or see th...

At the height of his reign, Solomon enjoyed wisdom, wealth, peace, and God’s favor. But a quiet shift was taking place that eventually led him to worship other gods. In this lesson, we will look at the the choices that pulled Solomon away from God so we don't make the same mistakes. You may think you could never turn away from God, but I'm sure Solomon thought the same thing.

Everything we possess—wisdom, opportunity, influence, and understanding—comes from God. We can bring our hardest questions and deepest confusions to God, because He knows and understands everything. God gave Solomon wisdom and wealth and used it to reveal His character to the nations. He wants to do the same with us today. When we draw near to Him, adopt His ways, and let His wisdom shape our deci...

God promised Solomon that He would watch over Israel and hear the prayers offered towards His Temple. If they continued to follow Him, He would bless and keep them. If they turned away from Him, He would punish them. But if they repented and sought Him, He would forgive and restore. It is the same for us today. God still watches over His people and hears their prayers. He knows our hearts and deal...

Solomon was the king of Israel, yet he humbled himself publicly and offered himself as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Jesus is the King of all Heaven and earth, yet He humbled Himself publicly and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. They both praised God, gave Him glory, and prayed for themselves and their people. So, if the King of Israel, and more significantly the King of Heaven and earth,...

We have a God that wants to be with us. He revealed this first by His presence in the Tabernacle, then in the Temple. After that, Jesus came and lived among the people and when He died, He sent His Spirit to dwell in the hearts of every believer which is His presence with us today. But all of this points us to a day when we will dwell in His physical presence forever and His glory will not overwhe...

God is our provider. He can meet our every need. Whether it be material, tangible, or practical, or it be a talent, skill, or character trait, God can give us what we need, when we need it. We just need to learn to rely on Him. When you recognize a need, let Him be the first one you ask. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. Rely on Him to meet your needs.

God wants us to ask Him for things. But we need to have the right heart. Riches, honor, and power are worldly pleasures. They can be used for God’s glory, but they certainly bring glory to us.

When the laws are clearly spelled out and everyone knows there will be consequences for breaking them, mercy is optional, but justice is to be expected. No one should complain about getting what they deserve. The guilt is on them, not on the one who handed down the sentence. There is no reason for the judge, jury, or officer to feel guilty for the consequence they must impose because of another pe...

Being the leader doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want, bossing around everyone who follows you. Good leaders submit themselves fully to God. They are servants first. Then, they lead with fairness and truth for the good of those who follow them and for the Lord.

Sometimes we may wish that God had chosen us for something bigger, more important, more public, or more lasting. We may even feel more qualified or like we deserve it more than the person serving in the role you want. But it is not for us to question the Lord’s choice for us or for others. He knows the plans He has for each one of us, and He has His reasons. Instead of wishing we had a different r...