I was reading in 2 Samuel this morning and came across one of the most grace-filled passages in the entire Bible. It's the story of when David wanted to build a "house" for God. Once David recognized the splendor he lived in and the paucity of what God lived in, he desired to build a new house (a temple) for God to dwell in. Yet, when the prophet Nathan inquired of God about this, God turned down this offer. God stated that he never asked for a better house to live in.
But then God went further. In a tremendous show of grace, God reminded David of his humble beginnings and how God called him from the pasture, from tending flocks, to be his ruler over his people. God promised that he will make David's name great and that God will provide a house for David!
The house that God spoke of was a royal lineage that would last forever, because God will be the father of that lineage and it will be his son. God promised that his love will never be taken from David's line. This is what God's covenant love is about--him fulfilling his obligations to us. David's only response to this was humble praise and thanksgiving. What else could he do?
Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever wanted to do something great for God, only to realize that God didn't need you to do something great for him but that he was actually doing something great for you?
I'm overwhelmed every time I think about the process of transformation God is effecting within me and the grace that he extended me in my conversion.
We need to keep our obligations in God's covenant. Keep working for God, yes, but don't assume God needs your great works. All God needs is you. And in his covenant, as part of his covenant obligations, he promises to be with you (us) with a love that will never leave (Matt. 28:19-20; Romans 8).
But then God went further. In a tremendous show of grace, God reminded David of his humble beginnings and how God called him from the pasture, from tending flocks, to be his ruler over his people. God promised that he will make David's name great and that God will provide a house for David!
The house that God spoke of was a royal lineage that would last forever, because God will be the father of that lineage and it will be his son. God promised that his love will never be taken from David's line. This is what God's covenant love is about--him fulfilling his obligations to us. David's only response to this was humble praise and thanksgiving. What else could he do?
Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever wanted to do something great for God, only to realize that God didn't need you to do something great for him but that he was actually doing something great for you?
I'm overwhelmed every time I think about the process of transformation God is effecting within me and the grace that he extended me in my conversion.
We need to keep our obligations in God's covenant. Keep working for God, yes, but don't assume God needs your great works. All God needs is you. And in his covenant, as part of his covenant obligations, he promises to be with you (us) with a love that will never leave (Matt. 28:19-20; Romans 8).
