Pages

Thursday, April 5, 2018

A Legacy of Spiritual Blessings {1Chronicles 28-29}




My husband and I were both raised by single working mothers. Both our mothers’ motto was: “You won’t receive any wealth from me, except your education”, so they both focused on helping their children graduate from college and they succeeded, which made them feel proud and grateful! Of course my husband and I are forever grateful to them for all their love, dedication and effort, but there was something they missed while bringing us up: teaching us the fear of the Lord according to the Scriptures. But none can give what he has not. Over the years both my husband and I recognize the great blessing we’ve had as parents to be able to raise our children with Jesus and His Word as our foundation.  Our focus and prayers have been that our children would have a passion and commitment for God and His precepts!

David knew the importance of this and in today’s reading, as he assembled all the leaders of Israel in what would be the "passing of the torch" ceremony to Solomon, he spoke these words:

Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.” (1 Chron. 28:8)

He first spoke to the leaders and the people of Israel. We as parents (leaders) should also consider these words:
Be careful to seek out all the commandments of the LORD:

- Be careful, in the sense that they had to regard this responsibility as important and worthy of attention.
- Seek out the commandments of God, searching the Scriptures diligently.

Then he speaks to Solomon, his son. I believe we can also take these words to our children:
“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but [b]if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever. 10 Consider this carefully, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be courageous and strong and do it.” (1 Chron. 28:9)
- Know the God of your father: David's exhortation to Solomon begins with the most important aspect - emphasizing a genuine commitment to a real relationship with the living God.  This is something David pursued and was even recognized as a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22).

- Serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind: David also exhorted Solomon to serve God with both his heart and mind. Both of these are important to truly serve Him!



We notice that the command to know came before the command to serve. "To know God is to serve Him. All failure in service is the result of loss of vision of God, misapprehension of Him, due to some distance from Him." (Morgan)

David gave Solomon a reason to commit his heart and mind to God: for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts (Jeremiah 17:10). When we truly understand God and His omniscience we will much more naturally serve Him as we should.

May we as parents continue to trust the life of our children to our Heavenly Father, as we commit ourselves to seek him and serve him with all our hearts!  May we be able with His help and guidance, to model a strong faith for our next generations!

May we as families yearn to build that spiritual temple from which will flow all the Spiritual blessings that He has prepared for those who love him! (1 Corinth. 2:8-10)

“The temple must be a sacred thing, and a type of Christ; it must be framed by Divine teaching. Christ is the true temple, the church is the gospel temple, and heaven the everlasting temple; all are framed according to the Divine counsels, and the plan laid in the Divine wisdom, ordained before the world, for God’s glory and our good.” M. Henry

Blessings my sisters!
Mari