This Day in History: 0000-08-11

August 11 – 1 Chronicles 28:9

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.
Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind.
For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought.
If you seek Him, you will find Him.
But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
So take this seriously.

What is the advice of a dying man who was described by God Himself as a man after God’s own heart to the son who will carry on his dynasty and lead the people of God? The answer is right here: Learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind.

David didn’t live a perfect life. Far from it. His sins included all the big ones: murder, adultery, pride, lying, stealing, gluttony, laziness, and many others. What David had, though, was exactly what he told his son to cultivate: an intimate knowledge of and relationship with God Almighty, and a sincere desire that penetrated his very being to worship and serve Him alone.

When the God who sees every heart examined the heart of His servant David He found one genuinely seeking Him. When He weighed the plans and thoughts of this king, He did not find one who had forsaken Him, but one who was loyal to his core to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

Friends, we’re going to sin. It’s a reality we can’t avoid, for we are not God. We are broken, fallen, sinful, yet dearly loved sons and daughters. May we never lose heart and forsake Him because of our failures. (Or worse, because of the failures of others.) May we be reminded instead of the man after God’s own heart.

May David’s example encourage us to spend our lives pursuing a deep, personal, intimate relationship with our Lord. May we spend time each and every day in His Word seeking Him, for He has promised us He will be found. May we spend each breath praising His righteous and holy Name! May the aim of our life be ever only to serve Him wholly.