There is not a CEO in the world that provides 24/7 access to himself. Even small companies must protect the time and availability of their top executives; if the business is going to be productive, it must be well run. However, our God has blessed us by giving us access to Himself anytime day or night. In fact, the book of Hebrews tells us that we are to come to Him boldly.

God not only wants us to come to Him, He makes that access free and easy. With such a rich blessing, wouldn’t all of mankind be on His doorstep constantly? Of course, believers would take advantage of this offer, regularly spending long hours conversing with Him and bringing requests. At least, that would make logical sense. Sadly, I fear that the throne room of God is often quite empty. Instead of taking every opportunity to fellowship with the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of mankind, we are more likely to occupy our time with less productive ventures, like watching TV, and playing games.

We often bemoan the fact that we don’t have a better prayer life, and yet, we do little to improve it. Is it possible that one of the reasons we find ourselves not in the presence of the Lord is because we really don’t know Him? Instead of being drawn to Him, do we instead experience a little dread or fear about standing before Him?

Maybe there’s an even more troubling reason why we waste so many opportunities to fellowship with Him. Maybe we don’t know Him well enough to trust Him. Perhaps instead of being drawn to Him with every problem, we linger, waiting for things to somehow work out on their own. Sure, God could have been a help to us, but what if it wasn’t in His plan this time?

Believers are missing out on so much in their relationship with their God largely because they don’t know Him well enough. Paul was concerned for the young believers at Ephesus and offered up a remarkable prayer on their behalf. He prayed in…

Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

He was pleading on their behalf for more wisdom to discern His perfect nature; to be able to think like He thinks, and feel like He feels.

Along with that request was what He called ‘revelation’ in the knowledge of Him. The idea is the ability to better see all of who Jesus is as He is laid out in front of you. This would be a teacher teaching biology by having the students open up a frog to learn what is inside. You might say the frog’s insides were ‘revealed’ to the student.

By having more knowledge of who Jesus is, He will draw us close as we begin to closely admire His goodness and grace, His faithfulness and mercy, and His kindness and love.

In a rich discussion about temptations, the New Testament writer, James, inserts a stern command. He just concluded his thought that man’s own lusts are what draw him away into sin. He gladly chases after those things his flesh desires. However, it is never God that draws him away, it is his own lusts. Then, James wrote…

James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

To better understand what this brief admonition really meant, we must take a closer look at the word, ‘err.’ In our modern vernacular, it is basically a contraction for the word, ‘error,’ meaning to make a mistake, or be mistaken. However, the original word as a somewhat broader meaning. It literally means, ‘to roam,’ like from safety or virtue. It means to go astray, to deceive, or to be out of the way.

I think that James was stressing to his readers the importance of not veering off from the truths taught in God’s Word. We might say, ‘Do not stray away from what you are being taught, my beloved brethren.’ James knew that even minute departures from truth can lead to wasted lives.

The new believers needed James’ strong warning, for he knew that one of the Devil’s most effective ways of derailing their new faith, was by getting them off track in an area even just a little. If he could just get them doubting just a bit; just a little doubt, that’s all he needs. For, he knows all too well that if someone opens the door even a little to deceit, it won’t be long before they are swallowing a lie.

Paul got word that the churches in Galatia were facing a vicious spiritual attack. He learned that some Jewish sympathizers had come to the area, and were teaching the young converts that they needed to reinstate their subjection to the Law, and that circumcision was a mandatory part of one’s salvation.

Paul was livid. He had worked so hard to convince the people there that salvation was by grace through faith alone, not with any subjection to the Law. These wolves had told them they needed the faith part of salvation, but they needed to add just a little bit to make it truly effective. Now, they were spreading a false gospel to their lost loved ones.

When we see someone who had been saved, and growing in the Christian walk now deeply mired in sin, we often wonder how in the world they got there. We question if their salvation had been genuine.

Another question that must be considered is, ‘where was it that they first got off?’ Where was that first err? They likely never had any idea that one little moment of straying could cost them so much.

Let’s take heed of James’ warning, and do not err.

When Jesus came into our world to be born of a virgin, He did so both out of obedience to His Father, and out of the love that He had for the world. On that miraculous day, God gave to His angels a command; He told them to worship His Son, Jesus. The writer of Hebrews wrote in…

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

It was important to God that all of creation give worship to Jesus, His only Son. Jesus came to perform a ministry that would change the world forever. It would become that moment that made it possible for man to have his sins completely forgiven, and go to Heaven forever. God knew that His mission for His Son would entail the greatest sacrifice ever made, throughout all of eternity.

Though every person and every creature would be expected to give heartfelt worship to Jesus, in this verse, He singled out the angels. Now by this time, a third of the angels had already joined their leader in rebelling against God. They were not about to give worship and praise to the Son of God, for He was their greatest Enemy.

Because of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, all the inhabitants of the world would be able to be saved from their sins, and break free from the iron clasp in which they were held and controlled by the Devil. Such freedom angered the Devil and all his evil cohorts. They set out to try and prevent anyone from receiving Jesus’ free gift of eternal life.

These fallen hell-bound angels would not worship the Son of God, but this directive was specific to the vast army of holy angels, whose sole purpose of existence is to obey and worship God. They had been faithfully worshipping the Son before He came to earth. In His heavenly state, He enjoyed their worship. For them to worship the same Jesus, only in a different form, was no problem. They were excited to carry on their worship and praise.

Though this command is not specifically addressed to believers, we have the same admonition given to us. Each and every redeemed child of God should faithfully worship the Lord Jesus. Our worship and praise should well up from our hearts and pour out freely whenever we think of Him.

Our church services should not be the only time of the week we worship the Lord. Daily we should lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for all the wonderful things He has done for us. We should consider His great gifts to us, causing us to overflow with joy and appreciation.

Our Lord Jesus left Heaven and became a man for us; we should worship Him.
He prays regularly for us as our faithful High Priest, and we should worship Him.
He Advocates on our behalf before the Heavenly Father, lovingly pleading our case, and appealing for us, and worship should pour from our hearts.

The angels were commanded to worship the Son of God; we should do so because we want to.

Solomon began his reign with a visit from the Lord that blessed him with great wisdom, riches, and fame beyond imagination. With peace all around, Solomon was situated to pursue a life like no other, and enjoy the fruit therefrom that none had ever experienced.

So, why then, did he begin the book written in his old age as follows…

Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

It’s all empty, Solomon wrote. My life is empty and worthless. As he looked back on all of his accomplishments, which were many and exceedingly great, He said they amounted to nothing.

One would initially conclude that ol’ Solomon must have been suffering from some dementia. After all, he had it all, wealth, women, and world-wide fame. People came from all parts of the world just to take in the opulence of his great kingdom. Dignitaries left in awe and amazement.
None were so great as Solomon.

But Solomon was an empty shell.

What happened to take Solomon from the heights of blessing, to the depths of despair?

Reading through Solomon’s biography, it doesn’t take long to discover what motivated the man. Solomon was on a life quest to fulfill his every desire. He built every grandiose building he could think of; he created the most elaborate gardens ever conceived; he had the greatest army, and security force, the most exotic foods to eat, and every woman his eyes desired.

Solomon pursued every craving that came into his heart. He became driven to have more, to taste more, and see more than any man who ever lived. Solomon’s cravings became his demons; always hounding him, and never giving him true peace.

When Solomon finally stopped to consider the glorious kingdom that he had built, age had deceptively caught up with him, stealing his vitality, and his ability to see clearly and navigate freely. Instead of bringing him comfort, all of his accomplishments became an indictment against him, reminders that his life had been spent chasing after one thing only…himself.

Solomon learned the hard way that true satisfaction and happiness are never the result of selfish pursuits. One will never find joy by chasing after it. Happiness will never be found by those who seek it.

True joy, peace, and fulfillment are the reward of giving, not taking. As we give our lives away in meeting the needs of others, then we are blessed with happiness and satisfaction.

It’s too bad that it took so long for Solomon to learn that lesson. May we learn from his mistake.