- At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the Lord and his own house,…2 Chronicles 8:1 – Twenty years. When reading these past few chapters and hearing about the greatness of the temple and all that went in it, it was easy for me to think it was happening as quickly as I read it. Yet for this great building to be finished it took twenty years. That’s longer than any of my seniors in high school have been alive. Yet what we see is God wasn’t frustrated with how long it took. He blessed it with His presence and blessed Solomon for his service. We must realize some of the great things God has called us to do will take time. He knows that, we may need to remind ourselves that longer is ok too. What He desires is our faithfulness to Him in the journey, for however long that journey is. Don’t let your heart be discouraged then when the great things God has called you to seem to not be shaping up quickly enough. Stay faithful to what He’s called you to do today and trust God has tomorrow. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1522
- Thus was accomplished all the work of Solomon from the day the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was completed. 2 Chronicles 8:16 – While this was certainly the work of Solomon, it wasn’t Solomon’s efforts and hands alone that built the temple of the Lord. It was a united effort between many people over many years and the result of such united effort was a glorious temple for the Lord. Here we see one byproduct of unity, things getting finished that need to be finished. We also though see repeated in scripture how another byproduct of unity can be the opposite of things being finished. When the people of God were “united” in their sinfulness and united in their rebellion of God, there certainly was a byproduct created there too. Seek therefore to be united, but united with the right people pursuing the right goal. For you can find yourself close, united deeply with someone or a group, and be pursuing actively a certain direction, but the end result of such unity is something far from what scripture is calling your life to be creating. Be wise then of who you unite with and be wise about the steps you take with them. If though God places in your story solid believers in Jesus who are pursuing the purposing of God, seek deep unity with such believers. For our efforts today aren’t after building any temples anymore, we’re in the work of the harvest, seeking to fill heaven with those that God loves and is calling to Himself. If you find a person, a church, or a team that is about that goal, what would be your reasoning for not uniting with them? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2597
Daily DEVO 