WHAT KIND OF HOME?

Part 5

"But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?"
(2 Chronicles 2:6).

Both David and Solomon were determined to do three things:

1) Build a house to honor the name of the Lord, which we have already discussed in Parts 1 - 4.

2. To dedicate the house to the Lord so it would be set apart for Him, and

3. To make a place to offer sacrifices to the Lord.

I know you are seeking to build a home to honor the awesome name of our God. I know you want to daily consecrate your home to the Lord. But, are you making your home a place to offer sacrifices to Him?

"What on earth are you saying?" you question. "We don't offer morning and evening sacrifices today like they did in Old Testament times!" You are right. However, everything that happened in the Old Testament was a prototype and pattern for us today (1 Corinthians 10:11). God laid down a precedent for us when He established the plan for the tabernacle. It wasn't just a good idea. It was actually a type of the heavenly pattern (Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:24).

Of course, we don't build a physical altar today, nor offer physical sacrifices. But, God still wants us to make a time and place where we offer worship and praise to Him. He wants us to sacrifice time in our day to pray together as a family. He wants us to take time as a family to listen to His voice speaking to us through His Word.

Psalm 69:30-31, says, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord BETTER than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs."

Psalm 92:1-2 says, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to show forth thy loving-kindness IN THE MORNING, and thy faithfulness EVERY NIGHT."

Psalm 107:21-22 says, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing."

Psalm 116:17 says, "I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."

Hebrews 13;15 says, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Each family has a different way of conducting Family Worship. That's good, because every family is unique. In our home we begin by my husband, Colin reading God's Word. We usually read God's Word from The Daily Light on the Daily Path which we find a great blessing. It has Scriptures on a certain theme for every morning and every evening for the whole year. Each one of us then thank the Lord for His goodness and pray for specific needs in the family and of course for the nation. Every family should be daily praying for our nation. We also love to pray for Israel, the persecuted church, and for other needy countries of the world. Each member of the family prays, right down to the little one who is just beginning to talk. And then we sing, either a hymn or two, or a worship song.

I know it takes sacrifice to establish this time every morning and evening to worship and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord God. But, what else are you establishing your home for? Is it a home to offer to the Lord, or a place for your own plans and purposes?

Solomon stated emphatically, "Who am I to build a house for him, EXCEPT as a place to make offerings before him?" (2 Chronicles 2:6). The NET translates it, "Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be ONLY A PLACE TO OFFER SACRIFICES BEFORE HIM." If we do not establish our home as a place to meet with God and offer sacrifices to Him, what is our home?

This is not a haphazard thing. It is something we make happen. We decide on a time every morning and evening to gather as a family to meet with God. We decide on the place we will meet together and we don't let anything else take its place.

Will you have the same passion Solomon had as you build your house for God?

Love from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Oh God, you the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the Potentate of the universe. Save me from failing to honor you in the home I am building to you. Please show me the way and how to establish this time each day to offer sacrifices to you. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I have no other desire for my home, EXCEPT to make it a place where we meet with God.

 

THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH

If you would like to order this book, which is such a great help in establishing Family Devotions, go to www.aboverubies.org or clink on this link:  http://bit.ly/DailyLightDailyPath