Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Never forsaken, never alone.”
Our Bible verse for today: “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won’t leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord’s house is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God will enable you to accomplish what He calls you to do.”
Young King Solomon was faced with a huge assignment. It fell to him to lead the nation of Israel to build a temple for the honor and glory of the Lord God. This was no small job. God is awesome and majestic, and His temple needed to be too. In 1 Chronicles chapter twenty-eight King David, nearing the end of his life, has handed off the kingship to his son Solomon and David is now in the process of describing Solomon’s first, and most important assignment from the Lord – build a temple fitting and appropriate for the God of the Universe.
Uh, ok. Do you think Solomon might have felt a little over-whelmed and under-qualified? I sure would have. To David’s credit he did get his son off to a good start. He gave him some instructions and he made some pretty substantial donations of gold and silver and other building supplies out of his own resources to help get it started.
But probably the best thing David did for Solomon occurred in verse twenty of chapter twenty-eight. There he reminded Solomon that there was no need to be afraid or discouraged. David said that Solomon could approach this monumental task with strength and courage. Why? Because the Lord God was with him. The Lord God would prepare and provide and direct as necessary to enable Solomon to accomplish this daunting task. In verse twenty-one David even assured him that God would bring other capable people to assist him.
Can you see the practical application of this lesson for our lives? We are often faced with difficult tasks that at first seem like “Mission Impossible”. Or we have problems that are so complicated, so frustrating, and even so painful that we wonder how in the world we can ever successfully navigate our way through such a mess.
The words that David spoke to his son Solomon are true for us too. “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” That’s right, just put one foot in front of the other, start walking it out, and do what you know you need to do. Because: “The Lord God, my God, is with you”. He won’t leave you or forsake you. He will hang in there with you and He will get you through it. He will provide and guide and abide with you until He brings you to the achievement of what He has called you to. God will enable you to accomplish what He calls you to do.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 