Breathless

“She came…and spoke to him about everything that was on her mind. So Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her. When the queen of Sheba observed all…it took her breath away. She said to the king, ‘The report I heard…is true. But I didn’t believe…until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, I was not even told half. Your wisdom and prosperity far exceed the report I heard.” 1 Kings 10:1-5

Like many of you I don’t remember life apart from going to church. My parents never gave us an option and they piled us in the old station wagon every time the church doors opened. The Lords Prayer and Apostles Creed were recited in my words as if I was saying my alphabet. The reading of Scripture was as monotone as reading a school assignment for a grade. My prayers were as polite as an answer to a question from my parents’ friends. But like the Queen of Sheba there came a time in my adulthood where there were many questions I pondered. There were things that no longer made sense…attitudes and behaviors that no longer satisfied…answers that turned into questions. I decided that I would delve into the Bible and pursue the wisdom of authors who wrote on the things of God. Bible study after Bible study, passage upon passage my knowledge of the One who breathed life onto it's pages increased. It didn’t increase because of anything I did, but increased because I went to the Wellspring of wisdom and understanding. Time after time He took my breath away, showing me things He was a part of and things that He was not a part of. It took my breath away the way He convicted me only to forgive me. It took my breath away how He comforted me when my heart was broken. It took my breath away how He divinely entrusted me with gifts only He could give. ‘The report I heard is true!' I had to come to the table and see with my own eyes!

I had to see how He would save my daughter from drugs. I had to come to the realization that I was a sorry savior and my surrender was my arsenal. I had to believe that God would heal my heart when my loved ones passed into heaven. I had to experience how death to self, meant life in Christ. I had to come…and I had to see! ‘Indeed, I was not even told half!’ He far exceeds anything I ever learned in church, but now my worship in church far exceeds anything it ever has. NOTHING has been too difficult for the King to accomplish on my behalf. NOTHING has been too difficult for the King to reveal to me. NOTHING will be too difficult for the King to perform and arrange on your behalf. You and I must continue to ‘come and speak to Him.’ The things we bring to Him will be returned 100-fold when we pursue His knowledge and wisdom on all things.

‘[The] King…gave the queen…her every desire – whatever she asked – besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty.’ 1 Kings 10:13