From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:21-23.

We read that Scripture yesterday at church. Do you ever read Scripture and a phrase stands out to you? The concerns of God stood out to me. God always has in mind His concerns for our good. What are our concerns? Are we a stumbling block?

And in our chapter, 2 Chronicles 2, Solomon is beginning the process for the building of the temple that his father, David, began by procuring everything that would be needed and for the plans for the temple itself that the Spirit had put in David’s mind (1 Chronicles 28:12). Can you imagine how amazing that would have been to see the building of the temple? I hope God blessed every foreigner tasked with the work. Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working. v. 17-18.

In prayer this morning, I couldn’t help but think about the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the history of our beginning and of God choosing a people to represent Him and the worship of Him to the world to light the way to His love. Yet, it’s also a record of people turning away from God to worship what is not God and then blaming Him for the darkness and mess they find themselves in. And then, God came to dwell with us and be one of us to show us how to love the Father, our Home. He showed us in real time what it is to love others and above all to love and trust His Father and our Father guided always by the Spirit.

The temple was built by foreign labor. By all historical accounts it was incredibly beautiful. But it was made of things that could not last. God is our Home and we, His temple, will last for eternity built on the foundation of love and trust and faith in God who is faithful and just and loves us so much He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17. The concerns of God. In walking with God – Father, Son, Spirit – I am learning from Him how vital and important faith in God is. He is my Life. He is my Home. In Him I know peace and assurance and goodness that lasts…the concerns of God…us. Take His hand…He’s here…always. His concern is for your good always. As you walk with Him you are walking toward Home and it is so good! He is our Peace. This world will continue on the path of darkness and confusion and lies and marvel at the mess they cannot escape on their own. Only in God will they know true Peace and Love. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:7-8. One day the whole world will find their true Home. God is our Home. Thank You Lord for loving us so well that You work in each heart because each one of us is precious to You! Thank You for Your patience and love. Thank You for You.