| Day 281: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. Solomon Builds the TempleThen the LORD gave this message to Solomon: "Concerning this Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father, David. I will live among the Israelites and will never abandon my people Israel."
(1 Kings 6:11-13) ReflectGod had an encouraging promise for Solomon: His eternal presence would never leave his people as long as the Israelites obeyed God's law. Knowing how many laws they had to follow, we may think this condition was difficult. But the Israelites' situation was much like ours today: God did not cut them off for failing to keep some small part of a law. He provided abundant forgiveness for all their sins, no matter how large or small. Separation from God led to breaking God's law, not the other way around. The kings abandoned God in their hearts first, and then they failed to keep his laws. Rather than focusing on how hard it is to obey God, we should focus on maintaining close fellowship with him through faith. As we put our faith in him, he gives us the power to obey. But when we close our hearts to God, we soon lose his power and presence. RespondNo matter what we have done in the past, we can turn to God in faith, receive his forgiveness, and experience renewed fellowship and strength from him. | 
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