Day 150

1 Kings 1–2 | 1 Corinthians 8

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Adonijah thought it was his moment.

David was dying. The throne was open. And Adonijah was next in line—at least, by human logic. So he took it. Or tried to.

He gathered chariots. Threw a feast. Lined up leaders to support him. He saw the door cracked open and shoved it wide.

But it wasn’t his.

Not by calling. Not by covenant.

And Solomon was the one God had chosen.

The power grab didn’t work.

Because just having the ability to do something doesn’t mean you ought to.

And that’s the theme pulsing beneath today’s readings:

Strength without submission is dangerous.

Freedom without love is destructive.

And influence without restraint will always overreach.

The Temptation to Use What You’ve Got

That temptation is in me too.

God’s given me influence. Words. Insight. And most days, I try to use them for His glory.

But some days…

I want to use them to win.

To prove a point. To set the record straight. To correct the narrative.

Jason and I have a running joke: He’s all law enforcement and logic. I’m all emails and emotion.

Every time something happens—in life or in business—he’ll look at me with a smirk and say,

“I bet you fired off an email about that.”

And he’s usually right. Because I usually do.

When something feels wrong, I know exactly how to say the right thing to make my point and make the recipient squirm. How to wordsmith it. Sharpen it. Deliver it. How to weaponize words with just enough fire to make it land.

But 1 Corinthians 8 wrecked me today in that regard.

“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (v. 1)

And a few verses later:

“If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat again.” (v. 13)

In other words:

Just because you can say it, doesn’t mean you should.

Just because you’re right, doesn’t mean it’s righteous.

And just because it’s freeing… doesn’t mean it’s loving.

When Love Doesn’t Look Like Power

Paul’s not rebuking people with evil motives. He’s correcting people who were technically right—but relationally wrong.

Yes, idols are fake. Yes, food is food. Yes, we have freedom in Christ.

But if your freedom crushes someone else’s faith—then you missed the point.

Love limits itself.

Not because it’s weak.

But because it’s secure.

That’s what Adonijah didn’t understand.

That’s what I forget too.

And that’s what Jesus showed perfectly.

Because That’s What Jesus Did

He didn’t cling to His rights.

He laid them down.

He didn’t crush the weak—He carried them.

He didn’t use His words to win arguments—He used them to speak peace, rebuke sin, and pronounce forgiveness.

He could’ve called down angels.

Could’ve silenced every critic.

Could’ve defended Himself in a hundred different ways.

But He didn’t.

Because love isn’t about what you can do.

It’s about what you choose to surrender—for someone else’s good.

And that’s the heart-check for me today.

So What Now?

Maybe you’re in a position of influence.

Maybe you’re gifted with insight, strength, clarity, persuasion.

Maybe you’re right.

But the deeper question isn’t “Can I do this?”

It’s “Will love be served if I do?”

If Jesus laid down His rights to love you…

what rights are you still clinging to?

And if He was secure enough to be silent…

…then maybe you don’t need to send that email after all.

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Lord, thank You for the gift of freedom. But even more than that—thank You for the love that chose to limit itself. Teach me not to use my strength for self but for service. Help me know when to speak and when to stay silent. When to build up and when to lay down. Let my liberty always bow to love. And let my influence be marked not by brilliance, but by restraint.

Amen.