Buried in the middle of the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles is a beautiful vocational blessing.
It comes from King David as he charges his son Solomon to build God's temple. Reading these words they felt as though they could be God's charge to me as well (or to anyone he's calling).
David begins by telling Solomon what God said to him (about Solomon);
"He will be my son, and I will be his father." (1 Chronicles 22:10)
The vocational foundation is now set.
Then David says, "The LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. May the LORD give you discretion and understanding..." (22:11-12)
"You will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged." (22:13)
David then tells his Solomon how he has taken pains to provide ample resources for the project at hand; money, materials, and workers beyond number.
Then he releases his son into the project;
"Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you.” (22:16)
"Serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind..." (28:9)
"The Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” (28:10)
Then David gave Solomon what God gave to him... the plans;
"He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind..." (28:12)
Through the Holy Spirit God puts his plans into people's minds. Detailed plans.
“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” (28:19)
This week, exactly one year after leaving my church position to make myself more available to getting the God's is moving in creation message out there, I feel as I'm on the cusp of stepping into that new project/calling.
Reading the words of the next verse, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work." (28:20) I feel like God is literally nudging me out the door.
"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work... is finished." (28:20)
Amen.
POSTSCRIPT: Then I check my email and I've been invited to speak to a business group in Denver (with deep Kuyperian roots), by a philanthropist who helped start an institute for faith and work in Denver (as I'm meeting Ambrose Seminary and University about the same idea for our city this afternoon), and then I notice that a YouTube interview I did yesterday is generating interest (and book sales), and... )
Image By Rhoda Baer (Photographer) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons