“Lord . . You have promised good things to your servant.” 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV.
Don’t lose sight of good things promised, nor lose sight of God in the good He provides.
My thoughts and comments today are about “good things.”
Life can be hard at times, sometimes changing without warning. You build comfortable routines and form assumptions about the future. Things go as you plan, for a while; then life tumbles out of your control, suggesting good times are unrecoverable. The news that shatters your assumptions and shakes your confidence is not the “end of the world” It just feels like it.
In a moment, your expectations can be dashed and you feel, “If it weren’t for bad news, there would be no news at all.” Such moments involve wildly swinging emotions, usually exaggerated and probably irrational. Despair paralyzes you momentarily, your fondness for how things were lies to you about how things will remain. Read Hebrews 12:27-28 NKJV. Dr. Robert Schuller, longtime pastor of the Crystal Cathedral, often reminded people, “Tough times never last; tough people do.”
David was king and concerned that the Ark of the Covenant rested in a tent while he enjoyed a palace of cedar and stone. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17 NIV. David desired to build a suitable “House for the Lord.” But God sent Nathan, a prophet, to tell David he would not build a house for the Lord, but God promised David a future of prosperity, posterity, security, and legacy. David responded with praise. Vs. 18-29. “O Lord Almighty, [You have said, ‘David], I will build a house for you’ . . You are God! Your words are trustworthy, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.” God promises good things for your home and family as well.
A holy desire was in David’s heart to build a proper house for God; God saw his heart, and in response, promised to build and establish a house for David. There is a spiritual principle here to consider. When your concern is to bless God with your life, God’s response is to build your house and bless you with good things. Your joyful response will be as David’s, “Your word is trustworthy and You have promised good things to Your servant.” Your Father promises good things, not the unsettling things of the moment. Jesus reasons, “If you then . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” Matthew 7:11 NKJV.
Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these [daily] things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these [good] things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV. Trouble diverts your attention from God and distracts you with your own problems. Disappointments can distract you from a Godly focus.
Be advised; prosperity as well as problems can be distracting. “When your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied . . do not forget the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6:10-11 NIV. Don’t lose sight of the good things God promises, nor lose sight of God in the good things He provides.
My prayer for you this day is for the good things God has for you as you love and serve Him.