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Christian Devotional – March 1, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 29:9–The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. TRUTH: The leaders set the example for the people and the people want to see that their leaders have integrity and generosity. In this case, the leaders, including king David, gave a huge amount of gold and silver to the building of the temple. The obedience of the leaders caused the people to praise God. As leaders, do we walk with integrity and in obedience to God in all areas, even money? As people, do we acknowledge and praise our leaders…
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Christian Devotional – February 28, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 28:20–David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the services of the temple of the Lord is finished.” TRUTH: Solomon had been tasked with a job by both God and his father, David. David encouraged him to be strong and do the work. When we are given a responsibility from God, our response should be: be strong and do the work. God promises to be with us and to help us do…
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Christian Devotional – February 27, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 27:24–Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering, and the number wasn’t entered in the book of the annuals of King David. TRUTH: God had promised to bless the nation of Israel and to multiply them. Why would it be so wrong to count the number? God knew that if they kept a count, then they would start to trust in a number instead of Him. They would care more about having superior numbers over their enemies than about having a supreme God. Do we trust in God to bring security and…
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Christian Devotional – February 26, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 26:27–Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord. TRUTH: The people recognized that the victories and successes that they had were the result of God working and moving in their lives and so they gave back to God some of the results of their winning. The people wanted to make sure that God’s house was taken care of and they also wanted to glorify God in all that He had done in their lives. RESPONSE: Father, You are the reason I am successful and I will give back to You from the blessings You give me. You are…
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Christian Devotional – February 25, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 25:6–All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres, and harps for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthum, and Heron were under the supervision of the king. TRUTH: God instructed specific people and their families to be in charge of the music at His temple. I enjoy that God loves music. He created music and He desires that we use it as a way to praise Him. Are we using music as a means to praise God? Music should be about God receiving praise, not about our own personal preferences and…
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Christian Devotional – February 24, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 24:19–This was their appointed order of ministry when they entered the temple of the Lord according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him. TRUTH: God had given Aaron a plan and order for how to carry out the responsibility of ministry. Generations later, that was still being held to and obeyed. Why? The descendants had been taught not only what to do, but their elders had conveyed the passion for why to do it as well, otherwise the actions would have fallen by the wayside after a couple of generations. As we experience the wonders…
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Christian Devotional – February 23, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 23:30–They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening. TRUTH: Many places in this chapter read like a daily to-do list for the Levities: bake the bread, offer the sacrifice, take charge of the purifications, praise and thank God every morning and every evening. We must be very careful that we remember the importance of thanking God in every circumstance and every day. This is to be part of our daily agenda. Are we thankful and full of praise today? RESPONSE: Father, I love You and I want to make sure that I set aside…
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Christian Devotional – February 22, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 22:12–May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. TRUTH: This is a curious statement to me because David is king, yet he makes it clear that it is God who will put Solomon in place as the next king, not himself. The Lord is truly the one who gives power and authority to people. We can expect Him to give us the discretion and understanding we need in order to do all that He’s set for us to do. We just have to choose to obey Him and…
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Christian Devotional – February 21, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 21:24–But King David replied to Aramah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” TRUTH: David had done wrong and was looking to make amends for what he had done. David came to make a sacrifice to the Lord at the place where the angel stopped, which happened to be on Aramah’s land. Instead of just taking the land and the animals, which as a king he had a right to do, David realized that since he had done wrong, he needed to be the one to make…
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Christian Devotional – February 20, 2013
VERSE: 1 Chronicles 20:6-7–In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. TRUTH: Another big man from the Philistines came and began taunting Israel. Jonathan remembered his uncle David who fought Goliath, and he went out and killed this six-fingered, six-toed man for taunting the nation of Israel and her God. When we hear about the amazing things God does in the lives of others, do we realize that He can do…