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But God (1)
'I...INTENDED TO BUILD...BUT GOD SAID.' 1 CHRONICLES 28:2-3
Vincent's passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, tended the injured, fed the hungry and earned a place in the people's hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors weren't happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack and gave his salary to the people.
'You look worse than the people you came to teach,' they said. 'Wouldn't Jesus have done the same?' Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed and he was dismissed from the ministry. He was hurt and angry; his only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn't God let it happen?
Then one day he watched an old miner struggling beneath a load of coal. Moved by the sight he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he didn't realise it at the time, he'd discovered his real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember: Vincent van Gogh.
How do you react to the 'But God' interruptions in your life? Do you fuss and fume, or do you look for His hand in them? David said, 'I...intended to build a...home for the ark...But God said..."Your son Solomon...shall build My house"' (1 Chronicles 28:2-6 NAS).
When God disallowed his plans, David immediately followed his 'But God' with a 'Yet God,' and declared, 'Yet... God...took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel' (v. 4). Instead of complaining about what he didn't get to do, David rejoiced in how God had already blessed him by promoting him from herding sheep to leading the Israelite nation. Think about it!
written by Bob Gass
