Bible Reading: 1 Chron. 28; Phil 1:1-15
“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 (KJV).
There are a number of things we will like to do that we consider very good but God has a different plan. If we rely on our judgement, we would go ahead and do it but God will not be pleased and we would be wondering why God is not accepting our service.
This is why God tells us in Matthew 7:7 (KJV), “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” God expects us to seek his face on anything that we want to do and get his consent before doing it.
Thus, we were told by David in the scriptures how he wanted to build a house for God but he was told “THOU SHALL NOT” by God. He said in 1 Chronicles 28:3 (KJV), “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.”
Imagine if David had not asked God thinking that God must be happy with him to build a church. He would have built the church only to find out that God may not inhabit it! But he asked God and he was not only told not to build the house but also the reason for the rejection. Thirdly , God went ahead to tell him who will build the house!
So God recognized the need for a house for Himself but rejected David from building the house because of the blood he had shed. However, he went ahead to choose his son, Solomon, to build the house! Remember, this is the same David that God referred to as the man after His heart in Acts 13:22.
We should therefore learn to seek the face of God on any issue before embarking on it. No wonder He says in Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV), “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to always seek your face on all issues before deciding on them.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero