Worship: Sundays at 8:15 am | 9:40 am | 11:00 am, Wednesdays at 6:35 pm
"A wise and understanding mind"
"And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David's place. But I'm young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. But I'm here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can't be numbered or counted due to its vast size. Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help."
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. God said to him, "Because you have asked for this instead of requesting long life, wealth, or victory over your enemies-asking for discernment so as to acquire good judgment- I will now do just what you said. Look, I hereby give you a wise and understanding mind. There has been no one like you before now, nor will there be anyone like you afterward." (1 Kings 3:7-12, CEB)
After King David died, David's son Solomon rose to the throne as King of Israel. Shortly thereafter, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to Solomon, "Ask whatever you wish, and I'll give it to you." This passage is part of Solomon's response.
God calls us to use our minds because, like Solomon, God has blessed us with intellectual abilities and the capacity for reason. Our rich Wesleyan heritage emphasizes this. We believe, as stated by the writers of The Wesley Study Bible, "that part of what it means to love God is that we develop our minds in ways that deepen or enhance our expressions of love."
Solomon may have set the standard for wisdom, but we would be wise to follow his example and routinely ask God for "wise and understanding minds" that help us to grow in grace and love so that we might become more fully the people God created us to be. May it be so.
Grace and peace,
Aaron
Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32653 United States
352.376.6615
TrinityGNV.org
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
STAY CONNECTED
Trinity United Methodist Church
352.376.6615
TrinityGNV.org
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
STAY CONNECTED
Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32653 United States
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