“For David said, ‘Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.’ So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.” – 1 Chronicles 22:5

Sometimes we have what we believe to be the best, most exciting, most God honoring idea, and yet God tells us to wait anyway. That happened to King David, who wanted to build a glorious temple devoted to the Lord. This was a truly great idea, but God revealed that it wasn’t David’s job to do.

This had to have been disappointing, maybe even crushing! However, instead of arguing with God, pouting about God’s rejection, or plowing ahead anyway, David focused on doing everything he possibly could to help and prepare his son Solomon build the temple. After being told to wait, David invested everything he could in making that season of waiting fruitful. He gathered materials, set organizational structures in place, and cast the vision for the next generation to do the work.

When we think about doing great things for God, we must be willing to think in terms of years and generations. We must never let our dreams for God become about ourselves. We must see to the fruitfulness and success of the rising generation, even if that means less credit or satisfaction for ourselves.

Are we as productive as David when we’re forced to wait, whether for minutes, months, or years? Do we find fruitful works of preparation to do or do we simply pick up our phones for mindless distraction? We must wait patiently when told by God to wait but we must learn to wait fruitfully while we wait. Redeem your times of waiting and prepare for the future!

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

This is a fascinating truth to reflect on! It explains much of the sharp divide in mindset between those who follow Jesus and those who don’t. If you have embraced Christ as Lord and Savior, then His work on the cross is logical, beautiful, and necessary. Sin separates us from our holy God. The wages of sin is death. The only way to deal with our sin is for something to die. It should be us as we deserve to remain spiritually separated from God forever. However, in His grace and mercy, God sent His eternal Son Jesus to die on our behalf. It all makes perfect sense – when we believe.

This is a truth that once we believe it sets us free and makes our hearts sing with joy, gladness, and praise. But for those who don’t yet believe it, it is strange, bloody, and barbaric. For those who don’t yet understand the awfulness of their sin and the terrible price that must be paid for it, this literally doesn’t make sense to them. They raise objections that reflect their lack of understanding of the depravity of sin.

This explains why many will reject our sharing of Christ. The cross simply doesn’t make sense to them. It also explains why we must keep sharing Christ – because for some, the cross will suddenly make perfect sense as they believe. What’s makes the difference? God’s work in their heart. God’s Spirit lifts the veil and reveals the beautiful power of the cross to those ready to believe.

We can’t discern when someone is ready, nor can we make them ready. We’re simply called to faithfully share this truth, knowing that we share the power of God with many who will only hear folly. Share anyway. Share well. Share knowing that the ability for your listener to understand lies in God’s hands, not yours. So pray before you share. Pray as you share. Pray after you share.

“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.”
– Proverbs 19:3

Unfortunately, we often resemble this proverb!!! Too often, our unbridled energy and enthusiasm, or our restlessness and dissatisfaction, or our selfishness and sin lead us down a path to failure and disaster. We ignore the teachings of Scripture and the warnings of our friends. We race ahead of reason and planning. We ignore the warning signs along the way and foolishness turns to disaster. Then, instead of being embarrassed, our first reaction is what? To get angry, particularly with God!

So often, when we mess up, our first response is to get mad and lash out. We blame our friends and associates. We blame God for things going badly. We wonder where God is. We beg and plead for Him to bail us out. We grow indignant at having to endure the logical consequences for our own foolish decisions.

Getting out of the ruin we foolishly bring upon ourselves begins with taking responsibility. We must admit to ourselves and to God that we were foolish (which we hate doing). We must accept that we’ve brought ourselves into that situation (which we hate doing). We must desire to genuinely change, not simply have our circumstances changed. Only then are we actually ready to pray honestly, repentantly, and wisely. Then we can be confident that despite our foolishness, God loves us, God hears us, and God welcomes our repentance. Then we can be confident that if we are followers of Jesus, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

“So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
– Psalm 90:12

As Christians, we often celebrate that we are eternal. In Christ, our days really are numberless. However, we’re also called to understand that the number of days we have before we enter glory are limited. Awareness of our own mortality is essential for developing and living true wisdom.

Biblical wisdom is far more than interesting fortune-cookie sayings or generic life advice. Biblical wisdom is about skillful living under God’s authority. A key element of that is understanding that we will die and that certain things can’t or won’t be done after we do.

First and foremost is choosing to believe in Jesus and be saved. All who die will become quite aware of Jesus, but salvation can only be accepted prior to death. Faith in Christ is the most important decision anyone can make and the awareness of mortality is often part of softening a heart toward the Gospel.

Once we’ve chosen Jesus, awareness of our own mortality makes us wiser and more effective disciples. Knowing our days are numbered should spur us to action as we accept Christ’s invitation to take up our cross daily. It should create urgency to share Christ with others, because we won’t be able to do that once we’re with Him forever.

As we recognize the briefness of our mortal life and the length of eternity, we should be encouraged to live lives of boldness for Jesus, knowing that the worst things we may suffer for Him pale in comparison to the glorious weight of eternity. Proper awareness of our own mortality lets us live as Paul did, keenly aware that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Recognize your own mortality and be wiser for it!

“That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.” – Romans 15:31-32

Paul asked the Romans to pray for him and listed these specific prayer requests. It’s well worth noting that God answered these prayers, but did so in a manner Paul couldn’t possibly have been expecting! Nonetheless, God knew best…

Paul’s mission to deliver relief funds to the poor Christians in Jerusalem was well received but resulted in a riot and his arrest. Paul was delivered safely from the unbelievers in Judea – by the Roman soldiers who arrested him! Paul eventually came to the Roman Christians with joy, but did so in chains after years in jail and a disastrous sea journey. Paul was indeed refreshed in their company, but it was while spending years under house arrest in Rome.

None of that could have been Paul’s preference or expectation, but it was God’s will and plan and it was good. By answering Paul’s prayers in such unexpected ways, Paul was able to preach the gospel to soldiers and sailors, centurions and praetorians, governors and high officials. God’s plan was infinitely greater than anything Paul could have dreamed up! Rather than becoming frustrated, fearful, resentful, angry, and impatient, Paul trusted in God and faithfully proclaimed Jesus every step of the way.

God may well have very different plans for your life than you’d prefer. That’s good! Take heart from Paul’s example and keep praying, keep trusting, and keep sharing Jesus with all those God puts in your path!