Today’s reading I Chronicles 20-23

I Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

David is giving big money to build the temple of God. He wants the temple built. It has become the motivating work of his life. His giving has now inspired others to give. He didn’t ask them to do what he wasn’t already doing.

They then give willingly out of a complete (perfect) heart towards God. They were giving from the heart with all their heart. Their giving with this attitude caused them great joy. They were happy and rejoicing. David was happy to see them give and happy to see them so happy!

When we give from the heart because we love God then we get joy and excitement in giving. We are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are helping the ministry of God go forward. We are building a church to reach our community, to bless others, and where we can worship. We are giving to get missionaries around the world. We are making a difference.

How is your attitude when it comes to giving? Do you want to give? Did you know that God loves a cheerful giver? He wants your offering because you love Him and His work.

When you get totally in line with Him and love Him then you will give in a way that brings Him great honor but also gives you great joy!

Today’s reading I Chronicles 17-19

I Chronicles 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

David loved God. He wanted desperately to do something great for God. He had wanted to build the temple but God would not allow him to do so. He had chosen to use someone else, his son!

That had to be discouraging but instead of getting bitter that God would not use him he got busy and prepared with all his might so that someone else could build what he dreamed of. He died to himself and gave himself 100% to building the kingdom of God.

I am afraid that many of us would get our feelings hurt and quit. I think that if we didn’t quit we would not be all in and surely not prepare with all of our might but David did!

David investigated what would be needed to get the job done. He then threw himself into the work wholeheartedly.

I just want to challenge us to consider how much we are given to the work even when we don’t get to play the position that we want. How much are we in? Are we only in when it benefits us or makes us look good?

I want to give all I can to get the work done whether I get what I want or the glory. How about you?

Today’s reading I Chronicles 1

I Chronicles 5:20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

God helped His people in this story. He helped them in a battle. There are two reasons mentioned that He helped them.

The first is that they cried out to Him in the battle. The second is because they put their trust in him.

We have a clear opportunity to talk to God. Things are often going wrong for us. We are in battles. What we need to do is to learn to cry out to God trusting and believing Him. He is a God that hears and answers prayer.

What problem or obstacle are you facing? Have you prayed? Do you really believe that God will hear and answer your prayer? Do you cast yourself on Him and trust that He will do something?

We should be people of prayer. We should believe God when we do pray!

Today’s reading II Kings 22-25

II Kings 23:37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

It is repeated over and over through this book of the Bible. They do evil like their parents did. What the parents do in moderation the children do in excess. And it keeps compounding because then the grandchildren get involved. God’s people are being taught by example and precept to not serve God but to do that which is evil in His sight.

This is almost like a broken record here in this part of the Bible. Generation after generation we are seeing the same problem.

What are we doing to make sure this isn’t repeated with our own children. You do know that your actions speak so loudly that they can not hear your words don’t you. You say go to church but you don’t. You say pray but you don’t. You say honor God but they know you never invest there but always have time and money for what is important to you.

They know that you anything for God and church are a sacrifice but your hobbies are not. They know that you will cut out the youth event as punishment so you do not have to take them to church but you never allow it to cut out what is really important to you.

What runs in your family?

Today’s reading II Kings 19-21

II Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Hezekiah makes huge mistakes in his life and ministry. God speaks to him and tells him that he will suffer the consequences. The part that always gets my attention and bothers me is his selfishness.

God tells him that the punishment will actually fall on his children. He will be robbed blind. He will lose the kingdom. His sons will be castrated.

Hezekiah’s response is, well isn’t it good that it will not happen to me or while I am alive?

How often do we live thinking only of ourselves and not even our children? Are we concerned to help them go further and accomplish more than we did in our lifetimes or are we only concerned that bad stuff not happen to us!

Is it enough to look out for number 1! Or should we be concerned about the church and ministry we are leaving our children?

Our lives and ministries will soon be over. Have we trained and prepared the next generation? Are we preparing others to accomplish more than we have accomplished? God help us be a help!