VERSE:
(God speaking to Solomon) …if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for My name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.
— 2 Chronicles 7:19

THOUGHT:
1 Kings 11:4-6 tells us that Solomon eventually broke the covenant with God, and followed after other gods; however, 1 Kings 24:1 tells us that Jehoiakim was the king of Judah when Israel was invaded by Babylon, which lead to their exile and the destruction of the temple. This took place many years, and many kings, after Solomon’s reign; however it was Solomon’s sin which caused Israel to be uprooted and the temple to be rejected. Solomon’s sin caused a ripple effect in time, which led to repercussions that he would have never imagined. Our actions have future consequences that we can’t imagine. Sin will take you further than you wanted to go, and cost you more than you ever dreamed.

APPLICATION:
Be mindful of your actions, and how they can affect not only you, but also those around you and those who come after you. Don’t be ignorant of the destructive nature of sin.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, help me to keep the final end in mind before acting in any situation. Keep me from sin, and keep me from selfishness that would negatively affect those whom I love. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!