OUR DAILY BREAD: GIVING GOD OUR BEST

[cimi]

July 15
Sunday


GIVING GOD
OUR BEST

READ:
1 Chronicles 22
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The house to be
built for the LORD
must be exceedingly
magnificent.
__ 1 Chronicles 22
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We had rehearsed the song for several weeks, and it sounded good. But there was one tricky section that we just couldn't get right. We were ready to call it good enough. Our choir derector seemed to agree. He too was weary of rehearsing the same few measures over and over.

Finally he said, "We've worked hard on this. You're tired. I'm tired. We're running short on time. And 99 percent of the people won't know whether or not we sing it right." As we started to put away our music, he continued, "But we're going to sing it right for the 1 percent who know the difference." We groaned as we reopened our music to the rumpled page.

On Sunday morning when we sang it right, few people knew. But that didn't matter. What really mattered was that we were singing from our heart for an audience of One__One who deserves excellent parise.

King David wanted an "exceedingly magnificent" house built for the Lord (1 Chron. 22:5). So before he died, he made sure his son Solomon had everything he needed to build the temple__an abundance of gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, stone, and skilled craftsmen (vv.14_15).

Whatever we do, our audience of One deserves our very best. __Julie Ackerman Link
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O worship the King,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All glorious above,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~And gratefully sing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~His power and His love. __Grant~~~~~~~~~~~~
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When we worship God,
only our best is good enough.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Chronicles 22**********

1 Then David said, "This
is the house of the LORD
God, and this is the altar of
burnt offering for Israel,"

2 So David commanded to
gather the aliens who were
in the land of Israel; and
he appointed masons to cut
hewn stones to build the
house of God. 3 And David
perpared iron in abundance
for the nails of the doors of
the gates and for the joints,
and bronze in abundance
beyond measure, 4 and
cedar trees in abundance
..........

5 Now David said,
"Solomon my son is young
and inexperienced, and the
house to be built for the
LORD must be exceedingly
magnificent, famous and
glorious throughout all
countires. I will now
make preparation for it."
So David made abundant
preparations before his
death.

6 Then he called for his
son Solomon, and charged
him to build a house for the
LORD God of Israel. 7 And
David said to Solomon...

11 "Now, my son, may
the LORD be with you;
and may you prosper, and
build the house of the LORD
your God, as He has said
to you. 12 Only may the
LORD give you wisdom and
understanding, and give you
charge concerning Israel,
that you may keep the law
of the LORD you God.

13 Then you will prosper, if
you take care to fulfill the
statutes and judgments with
which the LORD charged
Moses concerning Israel.
Be strong and of good
courage; do not fear nor be
dismayed...."

17 David also commanded
all the leaders of Israel
to help Solomon his son,
saying, 18 "Is not the LORD
your God with you?...

19 Now set your heart and
your soul to seek the LORD
your God. Therefore arise
and build the sanctuary of
the LORD God...."