1 Chronicles 22:16 and 22:19,  (vs. 16)"...Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee." (vs. 19) "Now set your heart and your souls to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD."  

We must all take time to examine if we are doing things for the LORD.  We may be busy, but what are we doing that makes a spiritual difference?  The phrase, "be doing, and the LORD be with thee," spoke to me this morning.  This statement was in the context of David preparing the work and materials for the temple.  As you know David was not allowed to build the house of the Lord, but that didn't take away from him getting the majority of the material prepared for this "exceeding magnifical" (vs. 5) building.  It also did not take away from him giving this great charge to Solomon and the princes of Israel. Be doing, speaks of the planning, the materials, the work, the organization, etc. that was associated with the building of the house of the LORD.  The Lord Jesus spake a parable to His followers which included the words, "Occupy till I come." The idea is to be doing business until the Lord returns.  It is the equivalent of "be doing" found in our text.  In the context of Jesus return for us, Paul the Apostle wrote, "...be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) The word"abounding" speaks of an abundance, it speaks of more than what is customary.  The Apostle Peter, encouraging the believer to serve the Lord, wrote, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister (be doing) the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10) The question then is, "Are you a good steward of the gifted abilities the Lord has provided you in order to serve Him?"  God has given you tools (spiritual gifts) to equip you in serving Him.  Therefore, we could conclude that we should all "be doing!"

I trust you will examine the moments and days of your life, and in so doing, you will spend time occupying till Jesus comes. Be a person who is "doing" for the Lord.  He is worthy of our service, and others may just be dependent upon what you are doing for the LORD.

Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.  What does the phrase "be doing, and the LORD be with thee" (1 Chronicles 22:16) mean to you?

2.  Are your efforts making a spiritual impact upon the lives of others?  Explain your answer.

3.  Are you getting the most out of your spiritual gifts or have you buried them?  What can you improve upon?

4.  Does your life reflect the truths expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:58? How so?