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My Daily Bible Readings II

December 02, 2005

My original goal was to post something everyday out of my readings, but as you can see that didn't happen. Since my last post I've read 1 Chronicles 24-29, 1Peter 5 - 2 Peter 3, and Micah 4-6.

1 & 2 Peter are amazing and powerful books of the Bible. 2 Peter 1:3 says "For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." God provides all that we need for life and to live godly lives. We have everything we need and it is found in the knowledge of Him who has called us. Isn't it awesome that the more we know God, the more godly we become? If you have never read 2 Peter or if it has been awhile then pick up your Bible and read through 2 Peter 1. God's word is our "knowledge" of Him and "You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning arises in your hearts." - 2 Peter 1:19. This is not man's account and interpretation of God, but the Bible and the prophecy of God didn't come from man, but from God Himself (2 Peter 1:21) and therefore it is our guide to knowing God.

1 Chronicles has been an interesting read. It consists of information about David making his son Solomon the new king. David wanted to build the temple for the Lord, but God wouldn't let him. Instead, God led David to come up with the plan and the material and then let Solomon take over the building of the Temple for God. In 1 Chronicles 29 starting with verse 10 there is an amazing prayer lifted up to God as David praised His creator:

"Then David praised the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, 'May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel from eternity to eternity. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. In Your hand are power and might, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand. For we are foreigners and sojourners in Your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with uprightness. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You. Give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commandments, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build the temple for which I have made provision." - 1 Chronicles 29:10-19

David clearly understood God's role in all of this, He's in control. Everything we have belongs to God. All of our possessions, all of our time, and even the air we breathe belongs to Him. Anything we give to God, we are giving what is already His. Sometimes I feel proud of myself for giving my time, my energy, and my money to the cause of Christ, but the biggest problem with all of that is that there is no time, energy, or money that doesn't belong to God already. I should never look at myself and what I do as doing God a favor, instead I need to look at it for what it is, giving God what belongs to Him. It isn't mine to do what I want with, it is God's and he is making me a steward of what he has given me.

Comments

Posted by: My Boaz's Ruth
December 21, 2005 01:01 AM

...I haven't seen anything in a while. You two okay?