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- Apr 25, 2006
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27 July 2007
2 Samuel 7 v 1-7
King David was living in his palace, and the LORD had given him peace from all his enemies around him. Then David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!"
Nathan said to the king, "Go and do what you really want to do, because the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke his word to Nathan," Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Will you build a house for me to live in? From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, "Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?" '
Do we confine God to one place? Maybe you are used to experiencing God in one place of worship but wouldn't expect to find him in another. Maybe we confine God to just working through Christians. I know of one person who was challenged by her non-Christian friend as to why she didn't become a Christian. So struck she was by his argument that she decided to give her life to God. I sometimes pray a prayer that has the line, "Be in the heart of each to whom I speak and in the mouth of those who speak unto me." I arrogantly think that I'm the one who speaks God's word to people or know what God wants. Sometimes I need a prophet to put me in my place!
If you have read the C S Lewis' book, 'The Chronicles of Narnia', or seen the film you would have heard the phrase, "Aslan is on the move!" We used to think solely in terms of bringing people to church to hear God's word but now we know we have to go the people. God is on the move once again and is He is blessing fresh expressions of church in mid-week groups that meet in houses, colleges, toddler groups, nightclubs, skate parks, old people's homes and many other places.
Lord; speak to me today in the unexpected places and by unexpected people. Let me see you at work in the place where I live, work or study.
Written by Jon Clarke
2 Samuel 7 v 1-7
King David was living in his palace, and the LORD had given him peace from all his enemies around him. Then David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!"
Nathan said to the king, "Go and do what you really want to do, because the LORD is with you."
But that night the LORD spoke his word to Nathan," Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Will you build a house for me to live in? From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, "Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?" '
Do we confine God to one place? Maybe you are used to experiencing God in one place of worship but wouldn't expect to find him in another. Maybe we confine God to just working through Christians. I know of one person who was challenged by her non-Christian friend as to why she didn't become a Christian. So struck she was by his argument that she decided to give her life to God. I sometimes pray a prayer that has the line, "Be in the heart of each to whom I speak and in the mouth of those who speak unto me." I arrogantly think that I'm the one who speaks God's word to people or know what God wants. Sometimes I need a prophet to put me in my place!
If you have read the C S Lewis' book, 'The Chronicles of Narnia', or seen the film you would have heard the phrase, "Aslan is on the move!" We used to think solely in terms of bringing people to church to hear God's word but now we know we have to go the people. God is on the move once again and is He is blessing fresh expressions of church in mid-week groups that meet in houses, colleges, toddler groups, nightclubs, skate parks, old people's homes and many other places.
Lord; speak to me today in the unexpected places and by unexpected people. Let me see you at work in the place where I live, work or study.
Written by Jon Clarke
