Through The Bible in a Year - March 26, 2026
“When the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD… for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.” – 1 Kings 8:10-11
A Christian, former Muslim named Abdu Murray went to visit a dying, older Muslim in the hospital. The elderly Muslim asked the usual theological questions of the Chrisian: Isn’t the Bible corrupted? Isn’t the Trinity a denial of one God? How could God die on a cross?
Abdu answered every question with philosophical, theological, and historical precision. But with each answer, the older man became stonier. Until Abdu asked about his children. The man’s lip quivered: “They are all I have in this life. Without them I die alone.”
Abdu asked gently, “What would happen if you believed in the God who wants you to know Him and cares for you?”
“My children would disown me. It would be a shame to them.”
Suddenly the real issue became clear. The primary objection to faith in Jesus wasn’t historical, theological, or philosophical—it was deeply human: Why would I risk the loves I know for a God I do not know?
This is the problem that the ancient temple dedication was meant to address. As God’s glory filled the temple, he was proclaimingto people that so often acted as if they did not know Him, “You can know Me. I am not distant or unknowable. I am still with you, and I will stay with you.”
The presence of God that filled Solomon’s temple—the same glory at Mount Sinai, the same pillar of cloud and fire that led Israel through the wilderness—that same glory came near in the presence of Jesus and stays near by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Since each Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit our God still says, “I am near – right here with you.”
By his abiding presence, our God declares, “I will love you more than any love you have, and I will stay with you when no other loves will.” God makes essential to the display of his ownglory his willingness to stay near to people whose patterns and pasts cause deep and hurtful shame, The One who sent Jesus to cover the shame of sinners will never leave or forsake you. He will abide with you more faithfully, powerfully, and lovingly than any love you think you must put aside to know his love.
Respond: What love – a relationship, career, pattern, or path – are you holding onto because you’re afraid God’s love will not be enough to compensate for its loss? Yes, God’s love will need to exceed all other loves, but when you know how faithful, loving, and powerful is his love, then living for Him is the love you will most cherish because you are the love he will forever cherish.
Prayer: Lord, I confess I sometimes treat Your love as something unknowable and distant. I hold onto familiar loves because I’m afraid of what loving You will cost. But You provided your Son so that I can know how loving and faithful You are—and You promised never to leave or forsake me. Help me believe that You’re love is worth more than any other love I might lose—and that the love more fulfilling than any other is Jesus. Amen.