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Essential Practicals:
Consult God On The Order
David was a good man who loved God and wanted to help the nation turn back to God completely. So he decided to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. This was a godly desire and it was needed in Israel. Something happened, however, in the journey to Jerusalem. An ox stumbled, the ark almost fell, and a man named Uzza was struck by the Lord when he tried to keep the ark upright. (1 Chronicles 13)
A good man with a godly desire working for a noble cause experienced a deadly tragedy. Why? How could God let this happen? David finds out why in 1 Chronicles 15.
1 Chronicles 15:13, For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” (NKJV)
The reason this tragedy took place was because they did not consult God about the proper order! This is an important lesson for us. Even when we have good ideas, godly desires and intentions, the way that we accomplish them is important to God. How we do things is as important as what we do. The way to find out how to do what God wants us to do is to consult Him on the order.
It is easy for us to follow the pattern that we have followed previously. When we plan a Bible study, we use the standard format that we have always known. When we plan a retreat, we pull out last year’s schedule and fill it in with new dates. When we plan an outreach or other event, we look back at what we have done before as the model.
There is a great danger in assuming that this study, event, or retreat should be just like the previous! Even if the study, event, or retreat is something that God wants, people could be hurt if it is not done in the right order. Maybe physically. Maybe spiritually. Maybe emotionally.
When you plan and prepare anything, spend time consulting God on the proper order. When the worship should be, how long the teaching should be, the place and priority of prayer, who should be invited, if food should be served, etc. Only when we have His order can the worship of God be fully restored.