WHEN OTHERS VISIT YOU, DO THEY SEE EVIDENCE OF YOUR FAITH?

SCRIPTURE:
“When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his 
relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.”
(I Kings 10:1)

MEDITATION:
The Queen of Sheba was wealthy and beautiful. 
She supposedly had everything a queen would want: gold, silver, 
ivory, precious jewels and servants taking care of her every need.
However, she still lacked something of great value.

She'd heard about the famous King Solomon and his miraculous God. 
Even though her people had many gods to worship, 
none intrigued her like the Lord God of Israel. 
Her heart was so moved by His name that she decided to take a 1,400 mile 
trip across the desert sands of Arabia 
to visit a man who knew this God personally.

Camels can travel around 20 miles a day, 
so the trip would take her about six months each way. 
She took a great caravan of servants, loads of spices, gold 
and unusual woods to give as gifts to Solomon. 
Her heart and soul wanted riches that she did not have, 
and she felt she could find them through him.

Finally, she arrived. 
It was the most magnificent palace she had ever seen. 
But her purpose wasn't to see the most beautiful archeological place ever 
built, it was to find a secret treasure.

She talked to Solomon for hours, asking him deep questions about God. 
She was probably exhausted, but satisfied by his answers. 
She found what she had longed for and she declared, 
“Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on 
the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, he has 
made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” (1 Kings 10:9).

Jesus mentions the Queen of Sheba in Matthew.
“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and 
condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s 
wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42)
He honors her desire for His wisdom.
 
The Queen of Sheba took great pains to find wisdom,
yet the wisdom available to her at that time was the wisdom of a man.
However, Solomon received his wisdom from God Himself. 
We also have access to this kind of wisdom today. 
If the Queen of Sheba would travel six months to find truth, 
how much more should we search for wisdom 
by opening our Bibles and our hearts to Him in prayer?

When people travel to our homes, it is not the structure of our house 
or the cleanliness inside that will ultimately impress our visitors. 
It is not a perfectly sculptured yard or a new car in the garage. 
If God’s light is shining in us, 
they will be drawn to the spiritual insight and presence of grace 
in our lives, that shows the Holy Spirit is living in us. 
When they sense the love of our God in us, 
they will have visited a wealthy home.

ACTION:
Your home is where your heart is.
It is a reflection of the Lord living in you. 
And your heart is Christ's home – a dwelling place for the Lord.

Be sure to spend time with Him, so you will be filled with wisdom 
and prepared with love to offer your guests.
Those who enter your home should find treasures 
that people have traveled the whole earth in search of.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the treasures You provide for those who 
love You and Your Son, Jesus. I pray that every person who walks into my 
home will find riches that only You can provide. Help me to be a venue for 
them to see Your wisdom and love. Teach me to love others in the same 
manner that You love me. Your love endures in spite of my faults. Help
me to love others in spite of their faults. It can't be right if You love 
them and I don't.”