1 Kings 3:7 – “And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”  NASB

Some may think that question foolish, but I consider it essential in discovering how to live the Christian life, perform our spiritual duties, and lead in a godly fashion.  We know how to go out.  We know how to enter the battle and tackle the obstacle.  We know how to pursue the objective and may even know how to fight while we are pursuing the prize before us.  We may know how to achieve the victory and defeat the devil through the principles of God’s word and with the spiritual weapons of warfare.  That is wonderful and needful.

Yet, I wonder, do we know how to come in after the battle has been fought and the victory won?  I speak of that from two perspectives.  Do we know how to come in before the people and into the presence of God rightly after the battle?  Do we know how to come in, after we have experienced a major victory?  Some, become infatuated with their own ability, supposed spiritual power, and importance and come in with an attitude of pride.  God will never honor man’s pride. 

The Bible issues a needed warning in Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  In Proverbs 13:10 we are informed that it is by Pride that Strife enters the picture.  The apostle Paul addresses this issue in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”  It was Pride that got Lucifer kicked out of heaven.  It was pride that destroyed kings in the Bible.  It was pride that has caused nations to crumble. 

We need to learn to walk in humility and gratefulness for God’s blessings and provisions so that when we have won a victory. We need to be humble and acknowledge that we achieved it through and by Him, not our own ability or strength.  We will then cause people to see and desire Him and His help rather than elevate us to a more lofty position that we should be granted.

The second focus of ‘coming in’ is entering the Presence of God in Worship.  The Psalmist in 100:4 instructed on the proper way to enter the presence of God.  We enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.  In Psalms 96:9 we read, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; tremble before and reverently fear Him, all the earth.”  In Psalms 34 1-3 the powerful directive is, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2 My life makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

I appreciate the sense of security we have or should have that God loves us and is our Loving Father.  However, I am often disturbed at the casualness in the approach of many to God.  I am told that even Prince Charles, in England, bows before the Queen and calls her ‘ma’am.’  I hear people call God “Big Daddy” or some other casual descriptor. He is not the ‘man upstairs’ and Jesus is not just our ‘buddy’.  We are talking about The Living God, the Creator of all things.  The Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. 

We are invited to come into His presence with boldness but that does not equate to disrespect or dishonor.  Would you approach the Queen of England or the President of the United States and say, “Hi doll, or hey, buddy or Mr. Prez.”  No, you would show respect even if you did not respect the person.  But, with God how can we enter His presence and not respect and honor Him. 

The disciples’ or Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6 we are told that our entering His presence is to be with an attitude of respect and honor Him.  “Hallowed be Thy name…”  The Greek word is “hagiazo” which means to ‘make holy, to hallow, honor, sanctify.’  Obviously, we cannot make God pure, He is pure, so our hallowing of His name is our recognition of Who He Is.

We need to know how to ‘Come In’ or ‘Enter’ His presence and when we come before Him in repentance and humility, He comes to us with Grace and Peace.  When we come before Him respectfully and with the honor and awe, He deserves, He comes to us with provision and blessing.  We need to not only know how to “Go Out” and fight but how to “Come In” and Worship and express our Gratitude and Thanksgiving.  When we do, we will be better able to “Go Out” in strength, power, and victory, and “Come In” receiving His enrichment.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!