Short ECWA Daily Manna Food for the Day

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

TEXT: 1 Chronicles 17:1-15

1. Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

2. And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

3. But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,

4. “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: it is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.

5. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling.

6. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”

7. Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel,

8. and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

9. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly,

10. from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house.

11. When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

12. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.

13. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,

14. but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’”

15. In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

(English Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: RECOGNIZE YOUR GRACE AND ACCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS

Now, David, no more considered the place of the Ark of God suitable. As experience had taught him, he consulted Nathan by telling him about his desire to build a more permanent and beautiful place for the Ark. Without hesitation and seeing that the king’s desire was laudable said, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you” (v. 2).

We weren’t told if the prophet consulted God before giving David the go ahead. But subsequent encounters revealed that God was not interested in David building Him a house. God has different assignments for different people at different times and gives them the grace to perform and the limitations they should not exceed.

That is why man must always accept God’s grace in service and at the same time recognize the limitations set for him by God.

QUESTION: In serving God, do you recognize your limitations and abide by them?

PRAYER: I appreciate Your grace on me, O Lord, help me to accept my limitations and support others to succeed in Your work, in Jesus name, Amen.