Thursday, June 17, 2010

seventh step

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of opening one of our planning meetings with a small devotion, and I chose II Samuel 6:13. David, the King of Israel, was having the Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem. (I won't go into all the history right now) This was the second attempt to return the Ark. Their first attempt ended in tragedy because their plans for moving the Ark, were simply that....."their" plans.

"When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf." What is so important about the six steps that they needed to be recorded in the scriptures?

In the first attempt, David may have wanted to receive the praise from the people for being the one who brought the Ark to Jerusalem.This time, the Ark is being moved in such a way as to honor and revere God. This time....God would be the focus of the praise. And, to make sure.....every six steps....a sacrifice was made to worship God and to praise Him. A reminder to us that God controls every step we take.

Six days of creation....six steps....six days in a week. Seventh day....God rested and focused on His creation. Seventh step...rest and focus on God...praise and worship.

How has your week gone? Have you taken the time to focus on God every six steps? Or, do you feel as though you just need to wait till that seventh day so you can worship God? If so, then those would be "your" plans, not God's. His plan is for us to know Him for who He is and what He has done for us. We should worship and praise Him for every breath He gives us; for every heart-beat; for every time we laugh and cry; for every struggle and every win. Every moment of every day, we should worship and praise God. Then......and only then will we be ready to worship on the seventh day.


What step did you just take?