Devotion
A humble servant of the Lord, no matter the task
David Jacobs
When I was in high school, I tried out for a school play. It was the first play I had ever tried out for or been in, so I was quite nervous. The play was "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat." Naturally, I wanted to be Joseph, but I didn't end up getting the part. Other students had more experience and were flat out better than I was. I was given another part (narrator) but was immature and refused to take part at all. I attended a performance of the play with my family, and to this day I can remember how great it was. It was a shame that I could not see the bigger picture and be a part of the show.
King David was a loyal servant of God for his entire life. No character more adamantly sings the praises of God than his obedient servant, David, so it is a surprise here in 1 Chronicles to see the Lord choose another king of Israel to build the temple for Him. God tells David via the prophet Nathan that David's son is the one that God has chosen. Although David was prepared to build the temple, Solomon ended up building it as we still know today.
How did David react? The same way he does in nearly every instance that the Lord speaks to him: he praises God, obediently going along with God's plan. If only I had learned my lesson from these verses! Life doesn't always give you exactly what you want, but to be part of something incredible and view being chosen to be a part of something special is a gift in and of itself. David realized this; I did not. Remember these verses the next time you are in a similar situation: we are God's servants and it is a blessing to be one at all.
Prayer
Have you had a similar experience as mine, when you were not selected for something that you wanted? How did you react? How can you be better and more like David the next time?
Devotion
Pray for Leaders
Frances Taylor
How often do you or I pray for government leaders? Paul doesn't say to pray just for the leaders we like, either. If we do want a tranquil and quiet life, we need all leaders to turn to God and work for justice for all their citizens. It's probably even more important to pray and intercede for those leaders who work against justice, than for those who are already doing the right thing. For those who are already on God's side, we should give thanks to God that they stay in leadership and continue to do God's will. The same goes for city, state, and even church leaders as well as our national and international leaders. Good leaders should be supported and others need to be held to account for their behavior. Obviously different countries have different forms of leadership, but that shouldn't stop us from praying for them. God does listen even if the answer doesn't come as quickly as we might like. In the case of democracies, we sometimes need a bad ...
Morning Prayer
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Inspiration
We cannot allow ourselves envy, for it corrodes not only our relationships with others but also the things we already have. The end result is that we neglect to value and appreciate things already in our possession, and thus in turn, being ungrateful to the Lord himself for what he has provided. Rather, our energy would be better placed to focus on giving thanks to the Lord and his gifts, here and now.
Prayer
To my Lord above, my Creator and Heavenly Father, by your grace do I come to thank you for all I have. Teach me not to covet others and their lot, but grant me instead the ability to Love and see the blessings you have already bestowed upon me. In return for your grace, I thus offer up to you my humblest of gifts, my Lord -my heart in obedience, is yours. Amen.
