"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY TO THE LORD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY TO THE LORD"

2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions, and a prayer:

Hezekiah had just become king. And the first thing he did was to repair the temple. He did all that was needful to get it up and running so the people could worship the Lord. The above verse was an exhortation from the king to the workers who were about to engage in the clean up work. It's a verse that hold much instruction and application for us today in our ministry to the Lord.

1. We ( who have been born again ) are in fact the sons of God.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

King Hezekiah was speaking to the children of Israel. The people of God. He called them "my sons" We who have come to faith in Jesus Christ are in fact the sons of God also. We have been born again, and have been adopted into the family of God.
At one time we were without God, but now through His mercy and grace that has all changed. We are the children of God.

2. We are also called to not be negligent, but rather diligent in our ministry to the Lord.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

This was a needed exhortation. "do not be negligent now" Or do not delay, do not procrastinate, but be diligent to do what God has put before you. They had a work to do that centered directly on God. We are in the same position. We are called to look unto Jesus and to serve Him with all of our hearts. And, it's important that we are faithful in our service to Him, and not to be delay, or be unfaithful, or neglectful, but rather diligently doing whatever it is that He has called us to do,

3. We have been chosen by God to be His children and to stand before Him.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

The King told the people how God had chosen them. The Bible tells us the same thing.
We have been chosen by God to be His children.
He called us, and He saved us, and we are now His.
We are the children of God.
Here's what Jesus said.

Joh 15:16* “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

4. We are also called to serve Him, and to minister to Him.
2nd Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”

So, to sum it all up the King was exhorting the people to busy about the ministry that God had set before them to do.
We are in the same position. God has placed each of us right where He wants us. And He has given each of us at least one spiritual gift. He wants us to use our spiritual gifts. We are exhorted in the NT to "redeem the time" or to make the most of the time we have.

There is so much work to be done in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. God will use you if you make yourself available to Him,
He will work in you, and He will work through you. He will use your life to minister to other people, just as He has used other peoples lives to minister to you.

Some questions:

1. What gifts do you think the Lord has given to you?

2. Have you put those gifts to work yet in serving the Lord?

3. Do you need help from God in figuring out what He wants you to do?

4. Do you know that God is more anxious than you are for you to be busy about His work?

5. God has a plan and it included using your life and your gifts to bring glory to His name.

A prayer:

Father thank You for Your wondrous grace and mercy towards us. And thank You for these stories in the Bible that serve as examples to motivate us in our relationship with You. We need that motivation. We want to please You. You deserve to be honored, served and glorified in and through our lives. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia