Focus: All Out for God

Text: Ezr.7:10.

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD..."

While Ezra prepared his heart, David prepared something else as a result of a prepared heart and envisioned future.

In 1Chron.15:1, we read, "And David...prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent." David provided space and set up a tent in it to accommodate the divine presence. While he was making houses for himself, he thought of a place for his God.

In 1Chron.22:3,5, we read, "And David prepared iron in ABUNDANCE for the nails for the doors of the gates...So David prepared ABUNDANTLY before his death."

I beg you with tears in the name of the Lord, like David did, get something tangible and visible done for your God on earth before you die! Give cheerfully, abundantly and sacrificially.

In 1Chron.22:14, we read, "Now, behold, in MY TROUBLE I have prepared for the house of the LORD...for it is in abundance... and thou mayest ADD thereto." While David made a tent for God, he also provided abundantly for the future temple. It cost him dearly. He greatly inconvenienced himself, but had no regrets doing that. In fact he saw it as a unique privilege.

In 1Chron.29:2, we read, "Now I have prepared with ALL MY MIGHT for the house of my God..." David went all the way and spared no effort or energy. He was all out for God and invested his whole power in making sure God had a permanent residence in the midst of His people. He fully stretched himself in doing the needful. He waited for nobody, but assumed personal responsibility.

In 1Chron.29:3, we read, "Moreover, because I have set MY AFFECTION to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, OVER and ABOVE ALL that I have prepared for the holy house." David found pleasure in all he did for God. It pleased his heart to have God live among His people. It gave him deep joy and a sense of fulfillment. It gladdened his soul. He did all he did and enjoyed doing it. No retreat. No reserves, and no regrets.

Finally, we read in 1Chron.29:16, "O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own." David here simply acknowledged God as the real and sole owner of all they gave Him. It was His in the first place. David and his people gave with a sense of privilege and responsibility.

As I pen this, the Spirit's fire burns in my spirit. I pray you be inspired and compelled to do as David did, however you can. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter