"I…INTENDED TO BUILD…BUT GOD SAID."
1 CHRONICLES 28:2-3 NAS
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incent’s unfathomable passion for
ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, cared
for the injured, fed the hungry and earned a place in the people’s heart. 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 opposed the
behavior and stroke down the notion of him being among ‘the people’ 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?
The story goes on to say that one
day Vincent 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
realize it at the time, he’d discovered his real calling. Hallelujah!
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV
The young preacher who was rejected
by his nomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember: Vincent van Gogh.
I’m reminded of a passage in scripture where Jesus was rejected in his own town. It went thusly:
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Luke 4:24 ESV
How do you respond 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” (1Ch 28:2-6
NAS). When God nixed 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” (v4).
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!
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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