1 Corinthians 2:9 ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him;’

DAILY READING – • Mark 12:28-44; 1 Kings 4-5; Hosea 7:3-16

In 2010, a 3000 years old palatial building was discovered by an American archaeological team in the city of Gezer.
This monumental building dated back to the 10th century BC, the era associated with King Solomon, who is famed for bringing wealth and stability to the kingdom of Israel and Judah. The archaeological team also found a layer featuring Philistine pottery, lending credence to the Biblical account of philistines living in the city until being vanquished by King David.
The complex featured a large central courtyard like contemporary palace. It also had defensive walls.
According to the archaeologists, this discovery appears to validate the Bible’s account which says Solomon, king of Israel, built a defensive wall in Jerusalem. The new discovery is the first archaeological evidence of this structure.
Indeed King Solomon built many structures during his time and the crowning achievement of his reign was the erection of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. King Solomon’s temple has been estimated to be the most expensive building in human history! Its total cost is well over half a billion dollars! This is an unimaginable cost for one house. But if it appears extravagant, it is perhaps a reflection of king David’s love for God because before his death, King David lavishly and extravagantly prepared the materials for this building. It was David’s desire and longing to build the most expensive and most magnificent temple for the Lord. [1 Chronicles 29:3].

King Solomon and king David were distinguished in their generations because of their love for God.
king David especially, served God with such deep love that God called him a man after His own heart.
David’s love for God made him to end up as a trans-generational celebrity, immortalized in history.

As believers we are expected to embrace a “God-first lifestyle”. This means loving God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:36-40).
Such a lifestyle will cause us to always give God the first place in all our considerations.

God takes the issue of love seriously. No matter what we do in His kingdom, if it is not done because of our love for Him, it has no value to God.

1 Corinthians 13;1-4 says ‘If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.’

Love for God must be the source of our service to Him. When we truly love God, we can go to any length and extent for Him.
We cannot say we love God and yet be unwilling to pay the price to follow His laws and His ways.

Jesus said in John 14 ’he that keeps my commandment, he it is that loves Me.’ and ’if a man say he loves Me and keeps not my commandment he does not love Me’.

Our love for God is manifested in our obedience to His Word. To serve God, we must seek to know Him in His Word.
Through studying His Word, we come to know His deeds, His nature and character.
This results in an intimate relationship where we serve Him from a standpoint of love.
And for those who truly love God, the Bible promises in 1 Corinthians 2:9 ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him;’

Indeed when we truly love God, He will turn us into a wonder to the world..
As we give Him first place in our hearts, He will give us the best places in life

PRAYER: Lord please grant me the grace to love You with all my heart. Please grant me fresh appetite for Your Word so that I can get to know You more and obey You always in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.