THE LORD SPOKE (June 21)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Chronicles 27-28

How well do you handle changes in your plans? Not the petty stuff like switching around your daily schedule but big things like a life-long dream? Or, how about seeing someone else realize your dream? Can you deal with that and do it in a way that honors God?

David "had it in his heart" (I Chron. 28:2) to build a Temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. When he had a hard time falling to sleep at night, that's what kept rolling through his mind. When he sat down at his desk in the morning he wanted to clear away all the other stuff he had to do so he could get at those Temple plans. When he walked through Home Depot, he was constantly evaluating and thinking, "Now that would look really good in the Temple I want to build."

But it wasn't meant to be. According to God's plan, the joy of seeing that project through was going to be given to someone else. So did David go and pout in the corner? Did he think, "Well, let's just see if he can come up with something that's even half as good as my plan"? On the contrary! After praising God for all He'd allowed him to accomplish (I Chron. 28:4), David encouraged the Temple Builder to do a good job and then he did everything possible to make him a success:

• he united the people (I Chron. 28:2) and encouraged them to get behind the project with a passion (I Chron. 28:21)
• he gave Solomon the plans for the building (I Chron. 28:11), which would be the equivalent of giving away the formula for Coca-Cola, times ten
• he gave Solomon clear instructions on how to best carry out the plan (I Chron. 28:13)
• he laid out the complete cost schedule for every detail of the plan (I Chron. 28:14-18) and then contributed a large part of the funds out of his own pocket (see 29:3-5)
• he headed up the capital campaign and raised all the remaining funds among the people (29:6-9)

Tucked into his instructions to Solomon is a wise note that also applies very well to us. After reminding him of his covenant responsibility to follow all the commands of the Lord (I Chron. 28:6-8), he tells Solomon that the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him he will be found by you..." (I Chron. 28:9-10).

Wise men still seek Him!


New Testament: Ephesians 4

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:3)

How do you do that if others are working toward disunity? How should we act and react when it appears things are falling apart? How may we preserve that for which Christ died? This chapter gives several answers to those questions:

• “be completely humble and gentle” (Eph. 4:2a) - There’s no room for pride or a heavy hand; these only destroy and break down.
• “be patient” (Eph. 4:2b) - Remember Galatians 6:9? “At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
• “bear with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2b) - “Love covers a multitude of sins”, and helps us to forgive and restore.
• “make every effort” (Eph. 4:3a) - Have you really exhausted every possibility already? Try again!
• get involved in “works of service” (Eph. 4:12) - Notice that this is the very thing that builds us up and brings unity.
• “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) - The worst thing you can do is refuse to talk about it. Ventilation brings a fresh breath of air.
• do your part (Eph. 4:16b) - Don’t point any fingers; just do yourself what you know to be right.
• stop living like the world (Eph. 4:17) - Christians are called to be different; our lives shouldn’t look like what happens on TV (look at Eph. 4:18-19!).
• “put off your old self” (Eph. 4:22) - Say no to those “deceitful desires”.
• “put on the new self” (Eph. 4:24) - Say yes to “true righteousness and holiness”.
• “put off falsehood and speak truthfully” (Eph. 4:25) - Lies and insinuations only aggravate the situation.
• “do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Eph. 4:26) - Keep short accounts; don’t keep a record of injuries.
• “do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:27) - Keep him off balance and guessing what’s next; don’t fight by his terms of engagement.
• “do something useful with your hands” (Eph. 4:28) - Pick someone you can help; there’s nothing like a project to take your mind off your own troubles.
• get rid of all “unwholesome talk” (Eph. 4:29) - Guard your tongue. It can be kerosene on a fire.
• get rid of all “bitterness” (Eph. 4:31) - Paul defines this as including rage, anger, brawling, slander, and every form of malice.
• “be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:32a) - This is the opposite of the negative qualities of the previous verse.
• “forgive each other” (Eph. 4:32b) - That puts it all in a nutshell and it should be easy, for “God forgave you” didn’t He?

The list goes on into the next chapter but this should give us something to work on!