Whatever your position in life is today, you have much to learn from the THRESHING FLOOR. Be Careful When You Have an Easy Life.
God warned that we should be careful with our hearts when everything is calm around us (Deut. 8:11), because it is at such moments that our hearts wander away and thoughts of vanity and vain glory overshadow us. Satan never gives a break; at the times of crisis, he is around to accuse and harass; at the time of ease, he is around to throw in ungodly thoughts. Lamentably, the Church has suffered more loss in the season of ease than in the season of crisis. In the season of peace, we often drop our guard, deceiving ourselves into thinking that there is no danger. It is in such moments that he attacks our minds with thoughts of pride and vain glory. Some of these thoughts come in a garb of bloated spirituality, which makes it difficult for mortal minds to decode.
After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.” That night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ‘2 Sam 7:1-7 NIV
In the proposal to build a temple for Jehovah, Nathan saw zeal for God’s business, but God saw something different. This was exposed in another moment of rest on every side; it appears that the true motive behind the offer to build the house of God was revealed. It became clear that David became proud in his heart and began to count his achievements like Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel Chapter 4, and he failed to give glory to the God who gave the success. It is safe to say that the first move to build the temple for God was motivated by the desire to add it to the many achievements of “King David the greatest king that Israel ever had.”
Child of God, it is important that you allow the Holy Spirit to scrutinize your intentions now concerning some noble ventures you have undertaken for mankind and in the Lord’s business.
Why do you want to build that house?
Why do you want to plant another church?
Why do you want to pursue a higher degree at the university?
Why do you want to travel abroad?
Why do you want to…? fill it in yourself
Since God could read our hearts and hear all the thoughts going on within them, He drew back from David because of those prideful thoughts, and that created room for satan to manipulate David’s decision into taking the census without consulting the priests or even his personal prophet, Gad.
The first time he wanted to undertake the building of the temple, he consulted Prophet Nathan, but this time he just gave the command to the army. Observe that when God decided to discipline him, God sent the man he should have consulted before giving the command for the census, Gad the seer. We will be saying more about this later in this meditation.
At the threshing floor the covering is removed from over the actual grain, and we can see what was hidden all along.
God does not just love us, but He is love personified. He is not just concerned about how we live now but what our life will become in the future. God knows our hearts and the hidden intentions while they are developing.
The best of gold is revealed when it passes through the fire, and the best of the diamond is only revealed after it has gone through the pain of cutting.
God does not punish His children, and it is a mistake to think that difficult times are proofs of His displeasure. Rather, we should see His love in whatever He permits to pass through.
In this short meditation, you will appreciate more How our God makes everything beautiful for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Welcome on board.
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