Daily Devotional for Friday, February 16

The Clarification

“But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood,” 1 Chronicles 28:3.

My mom kept a memory book for me while growing up. In kindergarten through second grade, in the blank line at the end of the saying, “When I Grow Up I Want To Be              ,” I had written, “just like my Dad.” Starting in third grade, however, something else was in the blank: “a professional baseball player.” No surprise, I did not turn out to be major league baseball material.

We often have dreams in life, with hopes to do something or be something extraordinary. Over time we find that some, maybe most, of those dreams do not come true. And these are not just dreams of riches and fame; many of these are desires to do good things for God. But we may fail. We may fail to make it overseas on a mission trip. We may fail to give extra to missions. We may fail to reach extra people for Christ. When we really try to do something and then fail, it can sting. To make it worse, we often see someone else accomplishing what we never could.

Surely David felt this way. He had a drive to build the Temple for God. He made great preparation for it, but God denied him this privilege. His response was admirable. Rather than moping and complaining, rather than getting depressed and doubting, he prepared the people and prepared his son to complete the task.

There are times in life when you will not get to do what you think you were meant to do. There are times when others will do what you feel you were meant to do. When I hear a good sermon, or when I hear a preacher with a strong voice, I have to fight back feelings of envy. Then I remember that I am not God, and He is good and perfect in all He does.

REFLECTION
God gives you what you need, and He enables you to accomplish what He wants accomplished. Trust Him.

Jason Rutherford