“As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now
have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee” (1 Chron.
29:17).
Only as you are trained spiritually, and brought through many experiences to spiritual
maturity, will you ever know God’s full thought for His house, the Church. David fought many
battles, but it was in these very battles that he gained his spiritual training. In 1 Chronicles
26:27, we read that it was the spoil of the battles that was dedicated towards the beautifying
of the House of God. If you are a child of God and have begun to walk in obedience to Him,
then God will never leave you until He has given you the full, clear pattern, even as He gave
it to David. In all his many experiences David was gathering material for the temple.
Every dimension, every material, even the windows and doors and colours were to show forth
the glory of God by displaying, in type, the Lord Jesus Christ in His church. The church is not
an earthly building. It is a spiritual building in which is to be revealed the love of God in Christ
for man’s salvation.
daily devotional
Vision of God’s house | January 27
January 27
“Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” (1 Chron. 29:5).
At last, after many years of experience and training, David had come to a position of spiritual
responsibility for the vision of God’s house, and could say, ‘Now I know why God has chosen
me’. Having showed the pattern to Solomon, he gave all his mighty men the opportunity and
privilege of having a share in this task. The privilege was only for those who were of a “willing”
heart.
We may be preaching, or praying, or teaching, or merely doing some menial task in the
service of God, but if it is done under man’s pressure, then it will not be acceptable to God.
If you perform anything for God at any time simply under compulsion, or for what you can
get out of it on earth, then there will be no reward for you in heaven. God demands willing
service.
Recent Devotions
Heavenly Church | January 28
January 28
“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they
offered willingly to the Lord: and David the King rejoiced also with great joy” (1 Chron. 29:9).
Perhaps we can truly say that this was the happiest day in the life of David, and indeed in
that heart of the whole nation. The joy of the Lord was their strength. Who among you are
willing now to offer yourselves for the battle and for the service of God? — Not for an earthly
so-called church, but for the Heavenly Church, His body?
Now please listen to His words as He stands before you holding out His nail-pierced hands
and pleading: “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” (1
Chron. 29:5). This was what made David truly rejoice; will it not much more make your
Saviour rejoice if you come and give Him freely and willingly your life, your money, your
talents, to be used in this great and heavenly building?
Then only you will know the fullness of the joy of the Lord, which is your strength. This indeed
is true joy, and it will bring joy to the whole church too.
Recent Devotions
Oneness with our Lord | January 29
January 29
“As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isa. 62:5).
The above verse indicates at once that the object of all His dealings with us is fellowship with
Himself. That goal, towards which He is drawing us on step by step, so that we cannot draw
back, is the highest joy of perfect oneness and union with our Lord. The Bible says: ‘the
bridegroom rejoices over the bride’. That speaks of the pure joy that rises only from a
fellowship of life, which is the gift of God.
God’s purpose in giving Eve to Adam as a companion was for fellowship. God wants us all to
have that true fellowship. This word fellowship is a unique word in the Bible and no one can
truly understand it who is not born again. The fellowship with the Father and the Son is wholly
and solely and entirely for those who have received new life from Him, and who abide with
Him and in Him forever and ever. That is how we define the love of God. It is the life of God
flowing into us and our life flowing towards God. True fellowship is mutual and will bring into
us a real divine likeness and conformity to the image of His Son.
Recent Devotions
God wants you | January 30
January 30
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb, is come,
and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7).
In Revelation 21 the Church is compared to a bride adorned for her husband — a bride
prepared to receive in fullness the love and joy and wisdom of God and the very heart-secrets
of her Lord. When you go to heaven the Lord will share everything with you without any
compulsion, and yet you will be glad to be in subjection to Him throughout eternity.
Now do you understand why your Lord wants you to be His? Now do you understand why He
is calling you, loving you and disciplining you? It is even that He may rejoice over you with
heavenly rejoicing, and that you may have intimacy with God the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost that the angels can never know. It is that you may enjoy the sweetest love through
all eternity — that you may know the great joy of being loved with a heavenly, everlasting
love.
All the heavenly powers are waiting to see God’s glory and beauty in you and God wants you
to be the object of His delight and affection. Will you not allow Him to bring you into that
enjoyment?