Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Buck Up" by Pat Kissell for Saturday, 17 December 2016 with Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10,20-21

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Buck Up" by Pat Kissell for Saturday, 17 December 2016 with Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:1-10,20-21
-------
"Buck Up" by Pat Kissell
1 Chronicles 28:1 David assembled in Yerushalayim all the leaders of Isra’el — the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the divisions serving the king, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the supervisors over the property and livestock of the king, along with his sons, the officials, the warrior-heroes, and anyone else who was a leader. 2 Then David the king rose to his feet and said: “My kinsmen and my people! Listen to me! I set my heart on building a house where the ark for the covenant of Adonai could remain at rest. It would have been God’s footstool, and I prepared to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, you have shed blood.’ 4 However, Adonai the God of Isra’el chose me out of my father’s whole family to be king over Isra’el forever; for he chose Y’hudah to be the leader; and in the house of Y’hudah, in the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, it was his pleasure to make me king over all Isra’el; 5 and of all my sons — for Adonai has given me many sons — he has chosen Shlomo my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Adonai over Isra’el.
6 “Moreover, he said to me, ‘Shlomo your son will build my house and courtyards, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever, if he uses his strength to obey my mitzvot and abide by my rulings, as [he is doing] currently.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Isra’el, the community of Adonai, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the mitzvot of Adonai your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants after you forever.
9 “As for you, Shlomo my son, know the God of your father. Serve him wholeheartedly and with desire in your being; for Adonai searches all hearts and understands all the inclinations of people’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever. 10 See now that Adonai has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; so be strong, and do it!”
20 Then David said to Shlomo his son, “Be strong, be bold, and do it! Don’t be afraid or become discouraged! For Adonai, God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you until all the work for the service in the house of Adonai has been finished. 21 See, there are the divisions of the cohanim and L’vi’im for all the service in the house of God. For every kind of work, you will have with you every man who is willing and skilled, for every kind of service. Also the captains and all the people will be completely at your disposal.”
-------
I may be the only doctoral student at New York University who has quoted 1 Chronicles 28:20 in the acknowledgment section of her dissertation. In a rough spot, I clung to that verse: “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
David spoke those words to the leaders of Israel when he gave Solomon the plans for the temple complex and presented Solomon as Israel’s new king. Today, it would perhaps be comparable to a presidential inauguration. David’s words were both a charge and encouragement to Solomon.
What can we learn about our responsibility and God’s from 1 Chronicles 28?
Our Responsibility: “Be strong.” How can we build ourselves physically and spiritually? “Be courageous.” You won’t know until you try. “Do the work.” Don’t wish it on someone else! “Don’t be afraid.” Fear knocked at the door; faith opened it and no one was there. "Don't be discouraged." This can happen when things don't go our way.

So what is God's Responsibility? Elohim Yahweh will be with you, He won’t fail you or forsake you, and He will be with you until all the work is finished (some translations add "finished correctly").
-------
Hymn for Today: "He Never has Failed Me Yet" by W. J. Henry
1. When I travel the pathway so rugged and steep,
When I pass through the valley so dark and so deep,
And when snares for my soul by my foes have been set,
Jesus never has failed me yet.
Refrain:
He never has failed me yet.
He never has failed me yet.
I have proven Him true; What He says He will do.

He never has failed me yet.
-------
Thought for Today: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid or frightened of them, for Adonai your God is going with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
-------
Please Pray: That many people in France will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
-------