FALAITE ‘EPELELI 17, 2026

1 TU’I 15-17; PALOVEPI 19:21

Nothing in the earth below or the sky above can stop the march of the plans and purposes of God. Nothing.

‘Oku ‘ikai ha me’a ‘i lolofonua pe ‘i he langi ‘i ‘olunga te ne lava ke ta’ofi ‘a e palani mo e taumu’a ‘a e ‘Otua. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha me’a.

I was in the most vibrant, productive, influential, and exciting ministry period of my life. I had speaking engagements every weekend and several international trips each year. I was also writing a book a year. I was committed and determined, but I was not sovereign or without limits. All it took were some physical symptoms and a visit to the hospital, and my seemingly unstoppable plans stopped in an instant. I faced the fact that I would never again be capable of completing what I had committed myself to do.

Thankfully, God is not like me. Nothing can thwart his will, nothing can challenge his rule, and nothing can stop the march of his grand redemptive plan. The hope and spiritual security of every believer rest on the fact that our Lord cannot be stopped. His rule rules. This truth is clear and comforting in the following passage:

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem. (1 Kings 15:1-4)

The Lord of heaven and earth had set a redemptive plan in motion from before the world was formed, and he would not turn from that plan, no matter what. Here he established the throne of Abijam and his son in Jerusalem, not because Abijam was a God-fearing king but because God would not let anything stand in the way of his great redeeming plan. Out of Judah would come the King of kings whose throne would never, ever end. Don't misunderstand; God was not ignoring Abijam's sin, acting as though it were nothing. Abijam's sin against God is clearly proclaimed in this passage. What God was unwilling to do was to turn his back on the redemptive plan and the covenant promises he had made to David. Think about it for a moment. If our sin could thwart God's sovereign plan of grace, then there would be no hope for us. Hope for covenant breakers is found only in the perfect covenant-keeping zeal of the Lord. When we are faithless, he will remain faithful, because he cannot deny himself or the promises of grace he has made. So when you place your hope on him, your hope is secure. In a world where so many things disappoint us, that's very good news.

 TU’APULELULU ‘EPELELI 16, 20226

1 TU’I 12-14; SELEMAIA 17:5-10

No idol is more seductive, deceptive, or attractive than the idol of self.

‘Oku ‘ikai ha ‘aitoli ‘e fakahinga, kakaa mo faka’ofo’ofa, ka ko e ‘aitoli ‘o e kitaa.

A couple came to me for counseling because their marriage was a war zone. Normal conversations became verbal duels for power. They went after each other's motives, character, choices, and actions in ways that were deeply personal and hurtful. It was hard to find any area in their marriage that wasn't a battleground. They claimed to be believers and they went to a pretty good church, but there was no God in their marriage. Because there was no God in their marriage, there was no higher agenda than the wishes and happiness of self. Their marriage ethics were set by the lord of self. Selfishness ruled every aspect of their relationship. They were exhausted and discouraged, but never considered that hope for their marriage would be found not in attacking one another but in together attacking the idol that was at the core of all their problems.

Idol worship rears its ugly and destructive head early in the biblical story. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobey God because they want to be like him. Worship of self, rather than worship of God, is the occasion of the very first sin on earth. Self-worship is the sad, discordant note that sounds throughout the entire biblical narrative. The great spiritual war is between the holy throne of God and the unholy deifying of self. Every act of vertical disobedience and horizontal cruelty is rooted in the dethroning of God and the enthroning of self. We see this clearly in 1 Kings 12:25-29:

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

The kingdom is now divided. Jeroboam is king of Israel and Rehoboam is king of Judah. It is shocking to see Jeroboam set up calves of gold for his people to worship, but it is even more shocking to hear him credit these idols with the deliverance of the people of God out of slavery. However, if this is all you see in this passage, you miss its deeper warning. Jeroboam sets up this idol worship so that his people will no longer go to Jerusalem to worship. He is afraid of losing power. At the core of this religious idolatry is the idol of self. This account stands as a warning to us. May God, in grace, free us from our bondage to ourselves.

 PULELULU ‘EPELELI 15, 2026

1 TU’I 8-11; SIOPE 38:1-18

God, who is infinite and omnipresent, cannot be limited by time and space.

Ko e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ‘ikai ha no ngata’anga pea ‘oku ne ‘i he potu kotoa pe, ‘oku ‘ikai lava ke ‘akilotoa ia ‘i he taimi mo ha potu.

Some of the most important and profound conversations with our children would just sneak up on us. They didn't come in scheduled moments. A side comment in the car on the way to practice opened up an important talk. A moment of reflection on the day started a significant interchange that went on into the night. We had to be prepared, looking for those moments and being ready and willing when they came. So it is with the word of God. Some of the most significant theological moments in Scripture seem to sneak up on us. They aren't preceded by a warning in all caps: WARNING: DOCTRINAL INSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. They may come as an editorial comment in a historical passage or embedded in the verse of a poem or hanging in the middle of a prayer. Be looking for those moments when God pulls back the curtain, revealing who he is, how he works, or the nature of his plan.

We find one of these profound theological moments in the middle of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple:

Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, "My name shall be there," that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. (1 Kings 8:27-30)

It is important to understand that God is not physical like us. He is not limited by boundaries of space or time. He lives in an eternal now, and he is everywhere. This truth presents a bit of a spiritual quandary for Solomon. If heaven and earth are unable to contain God, how much less will the temple that Solomon has just built be able to contain him? Yes, the Lord is in the temple that he has attached his name to, but the temple is not able to contain him.

The limitless, everywhereness of God is a precious truth, but at the same time it is hard for us to conceive. We are physical people, living in a physical space and surrounded by physical things. We are limited, and we spend so much of our time coming and going. But not God. The promises of God are connected to his everywhereness. I can trust his promises because I know God will always be in the place where these promises need to be delivered. All of this makes the incarnation even more stunning. God takes on human flesh. The limitless one takes on human limits to provide what limited human beings cannot provide for themselves. What grace!

 TUSITE ‘EPELELI 14, 2026

1 TU’I 6-7; SAAME 50:7-15

All of our religious habits and practices are empty if the Lord doesn't dwell in the temple of our hearts.

‘E iku kula launoa ‘a e ouau fakalotu mo e ngaue kotoa ‘oku tau fai, kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he temipale hotau loto.

I was on a high mountain at a large Buddhist temple. Priests and iconic Buddhist images were everywhere. On an elevated platform in the main temple sat a huge golden Buddha, twelve to fifteen feet high. All around me were very sincere and religious people. They lit and strategically placed candles, got down on their knees, and bowed their heads nearly to the ground. You could sense their sincerity, awe, and joy at being there. The scene was both engaging and heartbreaking to me. The whole place was buzzing with religious fervor. Around me was the low drone of huge bells that the priests would ring. But, despite the religious activity and spiritual sincerity, the temple was, in reality, completely empty. It was empty of any divine presence, and the god that people worshiped was a sorry handmade replacement for the one true God.

Religion - spiritual habits, practices, and pursuits - is empty and meaningless if God is not the Lord who reigns over and is worshiped by the hearts of all its practitioners. True religion is about more than buildings, spiritual disciplines, or creeds. True spirituality is about the presence of God. If God isn't dwelling in the center of it, then despite all the visible elements of a religion, it simply isn't the real deal. 

In 1 Kings 6, as Solomon is building the temple (a huge time, money, and attention commitment), God reminds him of what is even more important than this historical religious edifice that he is about to construct. What is more important than this temple? God's dwelling in the midst of his people. That building would be empty of its meaning and purpose if the Lord did not dwell there. And the people of Judah would be without identity, purpose, power, or future hope if God didn't live in the midst of them as well.

This is true of every form of spiritual pursuit and practice. It all lacks purpose, power, and hope if God isn't central, dwelling as Lord in the midst of it. The thing that makes true religion true cannot be achieved by building edifices, achieving seminary degrees, or amassing large crowds. True religion is only ever a gift of God's grace, evidenced when a perfectly holy God dwells in the midst of his less than holy people and sanctifies them by his presence and power. In his presence we find identity, forgiveness, power for living, and future hope. Jesus paid our penalty so that we would be blessed to live in God's presence now and in the forever that is to come. God is not satisfied with buildings, degrees, or programs. He will settle for nothing less than being Lord of the temple that is our hearts. 

 MONITE ‘EPELELI 13, 2026

1 TU’I 3-5; MA’AKE 10:35-45

If God told you he would grant you one wish, what would you ask for?

Kapau na’e talaatu ‘e he ‘Otua te ne foaki atu ha me’a pe te ke kole, ko e ha ho’o me’a ‘e kole?

We were in a big, flashy toy store. This place was any child's dream. I could see in my granddaughter's eyes that she was dazzled by everything around her. She let go of my hand as we walked down the first aisle. It was stocked to the ceiling with the latest and greatest toys. When she looked up at me, I said words to her that every child wishes to hear: "Pick one thing you want, and I will buy it for you." I had purposely set no limits of size or price. She looked up at me with a big smile on her face and said one single word: "Really?" I said, "Yes, whatever you want, but just one thing." We proceeded to take a rather long journey up and down the aisles of the toy store until I knew its geography by heart. She would stop for a minute and ponder. She would pick up an occasional toy, but she never made the big choice. Finally, she wandered to the back of the store and chose a book. She said, "Toys get boring real quick, but books stay interesting much longer.” I walked away impressed at her little-girl values and wisdom.

If your heavenly Father said to you, "I will give you any one thing you want," what would you ask for? The question itself gets at the war that takes place in all of our hearts, between a life shaped by worship and service of the Creator and one shaped by love of and craving for the creation. As Solomon ascends to the throne, God says to him, "Ask what I shall give you" (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon doesn't ask for the best palace ever, for military power, to be loved by many, or to be fabulously rich. No, he asks for something that has more lasting value than all of those things combined. Solomon asks for the thing that is so valuable that money can't buy it and that is so humanly unnatural that only God can give it. Solomon asks for wisdom: "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" (1 Kings 3:9). It takes a heart for God in order to resist asking for material things; it takes true humility in order to admit that you're not wise enough to do the thing that God has called you to do; and it takes faith in order to believe that God is the only true source of wisdom you need. The next verse says that Solomon's request pleased the Lord.

My request today is that my Lord would be pleased by what my heart craves. For that to be true, I need his rescuing and empowering grace. I know that grace is mine because long after Solomon's request, these words were written: "[Jesus] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15).

 SAPATE ‘EPELELI 12, 2026

1 TU’I 1-2; ‘EFESO 6:1-4

It is crucial that the children of God listen to and follow their Father's counsel.

‘Oku mahu’inga ki he fanau ‘a e ‘Otua ke nau fanongo mo muimui ki he akonaki ‘a e Tamai.

My father was a broken, imperfect man. He didn't act or parent perfectly, but he left me with many words of counsel that I have carried throughout my life. So much of his counsel had to do with work. He told me that work was a dignity and not a curse. He said, "They can take away your job, but they can't take away your willingness and ability to work." He told me how important it is to always be willing to learn. He told me on one occasion that I could fool many people but that God is never fooled. True, my father could have made many better life choices, but I am thankful for the wisdom he imparted to me.

First Kings 2:1-4 records a father's final counsel to his son. David is at death's door; Solomon is going to succeed him as king. These are David's words of counsel:

When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel."

It is hard to overstate the spiritual value of these brief words of wisdom from a dying dad. I especially appreciate how David defines what it will mean for Solomon to be a strong man. His definition is not about brash, bullying, big-personality, muscled machismo. No, David knows that true strength is about walking in the ways of the Lord, as defined by the law of Moses, no matter what. The strength that really makes a difference is spiritual strength. Everyone's life is directed and shaped by what one's heart values and serves. The big battle is an internal battle, the fight for control of your thinking, desires, and choices. There is no more important show of strength than to stand strong in the way of the Lord. And, because this is a high standard, too high for us to reach on our own, this strength is only ever the result of God's grace.

When I read David's words, I think not only of my earthy father, but also of my infinitely wise, kind, and loving heavenly Father. I am thankful that, by grace, he has chosen me to be his child and has made my heart receptive to his always-wise counsel. I am aware that I have no wisdom of my own; he is my wisdom. The question is, Will I submit to his wise counsel, or go my own foolish way?

 TOKONAKI ‘EPELELI 11, 2026

2 SAMIUELA 22-24; MA’AKE 12:28-34

When it comes to biblical truth, insightful people are those not simply with the right answers but with the right questions, which lead to the right answers.

Fekau’aki mo e mo’oni faka-Folofola, ko kinautolu ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e maamaa, ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i he’enau ma’u ‘a e ngaahi tali ‘oku tonu, ka ‘oku nau fai ‘a e fehu’i lelei ke ma’u mei ai ‘a e ngaahi tali ‘oku tonu.

The Bible is not just a book with life-changing answers; it is also a record of profound questions. In the garden of Eden, when God asks Adam, "Where are you?" we are confronted with the fact that something is terribly wrong and that the world will never be the same again (Gen. 3:9). Divine image bearers, Adam and Eve, are now hiding from their Creator; shalom has been shattered. Later Abraham asks a thunderously important question, appealing for God's mercy: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" (Gen. 18:25). How about the practicality of this question: "How can a young man keep his way pure?" (Ps. 119:9)? Paul's question in Romans 6:1-"Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?"-exposes and addresses a significant misunderstanding of the gospel. The questions of the Bible are recorded to expose our hearts, enlighten our minds, guard and protect us, deepen our faith, stimulate a sense of spiritual need and hunger, and move us to love God more fully and deeply.

Near the end of King David's life, this poet and musician composes a lengthy and gloriously celebratory song of deliverance. In this song he celebrates the faithfulness of God's protection. Humbly, David makes it known that his enemies were defeated not because of his independent military prowess and power, but by the almighty presence and power of God. This song is not that of a conquering general, pumping out his chest and saying, "Look what I have done." No, it is a hymn of praise from start to finish. We would do well to stop occasionally and write our own songs of thanksgiving.

In the song David asks the best, most important questions ever. How you answer these questions will determine where your heart goes and how you will then live your life: 

Who is God, but the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God? (2 Sam. 22:32)

For David, these are rhetorical questions. His life is a narrative of the unparalleled majesty and splendor of his God. There is no one like the Lord. No one is righteous like the Lord. No one has power like the Lord. No one is faithful like the Lord. He alone is a rock of surety upon which life and hope can stand. "Who is God, except our God?" The resounding answer is, "No one." 

As you encounter this particular question, you must understand that many are battling for the rule of your heart. Many lords want to be the lord of your life. The pool of God-replacements is as deep as our wandering hearts and as wide as the creation around us. False gods whisper lies in our ears every day. David's rhetorical questions speak to the heart of the great spiritual war: "Who will be your God?" May God's grace enable us to give the right answer to this most important question of all.