Embracing God's Call: Trust, Intimacy, and Action

Devotional

Day 1: Trust God's Word Completely

To truly follow God, we must guard His Word in our hearts, taking every command seriously—not just the ones we find convenient or easy. David’s charge to Israel was to be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord, understanding that our obedience impacts not only our own lives but also the generations that come after us. In a world that often encourages us to pick and choose what we believe, God calls us to trust Him fully, building a hedge around His truth so that it shapes our lives and the legacy we leave. [56:29]

1 Chronicles 28:8 (ESV)
"Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever."

Reflection: What is one command of God you tend to overlook or rationalize away? How can you intentionally guard and live out that truth today, knowing it will impact those who come after you?

Day 2: Know God Deeply

God’s greatest desire is not for us to simply know about Him, but to know Him intimately through personal experience. David’s advice to Solomon was to acknowledge—truly know—the God of his father, emphasizing that everything else in life flows from a deep, personal relationship with God. This kind of knowing is not just intellectual but experiential, where you encounter God’s presence and love in a way that transforms your heart and sustains your obedience. [01:05:04]

1 Chronicles 28:9a (ESV)
"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought."

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally sought to experience God’s presence, not just learn about Him? What is one way you can pursue a deeper relationship with Him this week?

Day 3: Serve Him Wholeheartedly

Serving God is meant to come from a place of wholehearted devotion, not out of duty or divided loyalty. David warns against giving God only a piece of our hearts, reminding us that a divided heart leads to trouble and missed blessings. When we truly experience God’s goodness, our natural response is to serve Him with everything we have, holding nothing back and allowing our love for Him to drive our actions. [01:08:47]

1 Chronicles 28:9b (ESV)
"Serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where your heart is divided or where you’re holding back from God? What would it look like to give Him your whole heart in that area today?

Day 4: Rely on Him Fully

God does not call us to accomplish His purposes in our own strength; instead, He promises to be with us, empowering us to do the work He’s given us. Like a climber trusting the one who holds the rope, we are invited to step out in faith, knowing that God will guide, encourage, and catch us if we fall. Our courage and perseverance come from relying on His presence and power, not our own abilities, as we build for His kingdom in the places He has put us. [01:17:21]

1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV)
"Then David said to Solomon his son, 'Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.'"

Reflection: Where do you feel weak or afraid to step out in faith? How can you rely on God’s presence and power to take the next step in what He’s calling you to do?

Day 5: Your Calling Matters—Build Where You Are

Every believer has a unique calling from God, regardless of age or experience, and is placed in specific environments to build for His kingdom. Like Solomon, you may feel unqualified or unsure, but God has chosen and equipped you for a purpose right where you are—at home, work, school, or in your community. Don’t let doubts or comparisons hold you back; instead, ask God what He wants you to build in your current season and trust Him to use you for lasting impact. [52:32]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: In what environment has God placed you right now, and what is one specific way you sense He is calling you to build or serve for His kingdom there this week?

Sermon Summary

Gathering together is a privilege because God is always good, regardless of our circumstances or how we feel when we walk in. As we look at the end of David’s life in 1 Chronicles 28, we see a moment of transition—a “commencement speech” of sorts—where David gathers all of Israel and his son Solomon to pass on wisdom for the next generation. David’s journey, from shepherd to king, was marked by both triumphs and failures, but at the end, he focuses not on his accomplishments, but on the foundational truths that will sustain God’s people and Solomon as the new king.

David reminds everyone that God’s calling is not limited by age or experience. Just as Solomon, though young and inexperienced, was chosen to build the temple, each of us has a unique calling in the environments God has placed us—our families, workplaces, schools, and communities. The first charge David gives is to trust God’s word completely. This means guarding it, taking it seriously, and not picking and choosing what is convenient. Our faithfulness to God’s word doesn’t just impact us; it shapes the generations that follow.

Next, David turns to Solomon and urges him to know God deeply—not just to know about Him, but to experience Him intimately. Everything else flows from this relationship. Obedience and service are not meant to be dry duties, but the natural outflow of a heart that has encountered God’s love and presence. David’s own life is a testimony to the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him.

From this place of intimacy, David calls for wholehearted service. God desires our undivided hearts, not to feed His ego, but to protect us and lead us into fullness and peace. Divided hearts lead to trouble, as David himself experienced. Finally, David encourages Solomon—and us—to rely fully on God’s presence and power. The work God calls us to is not done in our own strength, but in partnership with Him. Like a climber trusting the one who holds the rope, we can move forward with courage, knowing God is with us, guiding, empowering, and catching us when we fall.

The challenge is clear: trust God’s word, know Him deeply, serve Him wholeheartedly, and rely on Him fully. In doing so, we build not just for ourselves, but for generations to come, and we step into the good work God has prepared for us.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Calling Is Not Limited by Age or Experience Just as Solomon was chosen to build the temple despite his youth and inexperience, God’s calling on our lives is not restricted by our qualifications or stage of life. Each of us is placed in unique environments—family, work, school, community—where God has a purpose for us. The question is not whether we are called, but whether we will recognize and respond to that calling right where we are. Don’t let the lie of inadequacy keep you from stepping into what God has for you. [46:50]
2. Trusting God’s Word Requires Guarding and Obedience David’s charge to Israel was to be careful—literally, to “guard”—God’s commands, not just the ones that are convenient or agreeable. In a culture that often encourages selective obedience, we are called to take God’s word seriously, building a hedge around it in our hearts. Our faithfulness today lays a foundation for future generations, and the blessings or consequences of our choices ripple far beyond our own lives. [55:24]
3. Intimacy with God Is the Foundation for Everything Else David’s primary advice to Solomon was not about strategy or leadership, but about knowing God intimately—experiencing Him, not just knowing about Him. This kind of relationship is cultivated through time, attention, and openness to God’s presence. Obedience and service become joyful and sustainable only when they flow from a heart that has encountered God’s love and goodness firsthand. [65:04]
4. Wholehearted Devotion Protects and Empowers Us God desires our whole heart, not to satisfy His own needs, but to protect us from the dangers of a divided life. When our hearts are split between God and other pursuits, we become vulnerable to trouble and miss out on the peace and fullness He offers. Wholehearted devotion is not about perfection, but about a willingness to let God have every part of us, trusting that His ways lead to life. [67:52]
5. Relying Fully on God Turns Calling into Action The final step is to move from intention to action, relying not on our own strength, but on God’s presence and power. Like a climber trusting the one who holds the rope, we can step out in courage, knowing God is with us, guiding and sustaining us even when we falter. The greatest danger is not failure, but succeeding at things that don’t matter for God’s kingdom. Let’s do the work He’s called us to, trusting that He is with us every step of the way. [75:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[42:18] - God’s Goodness and the Reason We Gather
[46:50] - David’s Life Review and God’s Calling
[52:32] - The Environments of Our Calling
[54:05] - Trusting God’s Word Completely
[55:24] - Guarding God’s Commands and Generational Impact
[56:29] - The Challenge of Convenience and Obedience
[57:38] - Generational Blessing and Responsibility
[59:21] - David’s Charge to Solomon: Know God Deeply
[65:04] - Intimacy with God as the Foundation
[66:41] - Serving God Wholeheartedly
[67:52] - The Danger of a Divided Heart
[70:02] - Relying Fully on God’s Presence and Power
[75:56] - The Rock Climbing Analogy: Trusting God as Our Belayer
[78:55] - Building the Kingdom in Our Everyday Lives
[81:50] - Responding to God’s Call in Our Environments
[82:57] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 28:1-21 — (David’s final address to Israel and Solomon, his charge to trust God, know Him, serve wholeheartedly, and rely on God’s presence.)

Observation Questions

Who did David gather together for his final address, and why was this significant?
According to David’s speech, what specific task was Solomon chosen for, and what reason did God give for not allowing David to do it himself?
What does David tell the people and Solomon to do with God’s commands? What word does he use to describe how they should treat God’s word?
What does David say is the foundation for everything else Solomon will do as king?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think David emphasizes that God’s calling is not limited by age or experience, especially in the case of Solomon?
What does it mean to “guard” God’s word, and why does David say this is important for future generations?
David tells Solomon to “know God deeply” (yada). How is this different from just knowing about God? Why does David put this before anything else?
Why does David warn about having a divided heart, and what does he say are the consequences of not serving God wholeheartedly?

Application Questions

David says God’s calling isn’t limited by age or experience. In your current season of life, where do you sense God might be calling you to build or serve? Is there an area where you’ve felt “too young,” “too old,” or “not qualified enough”?
David challenges us to “guard” God’s word and not just pick the parts we like. Are there any commands or teachings of God that you find inconvenient or hard to follow? What would it look like to “build a hedge” around God’s word in your life this week?
The sermon talked about knowing God intimately, not just knowing about Him. What is one practical way you could pursue a deeper relationship with God this week—through prayer, worship, solitude, or another practice?
David warns about the danger of a divided heart. Is there something in your life right now that is competing with God for your attention or devotion? What step could you take to give God more of your heart?
The analogy of rock climbing was used to describe relying on God’s presence and power. Is there an area in your life where you need to “step out” and trust God more fully, even if you feel unsure or afraid? What would it look like to take that step this week?
David’s words remind us that our faithfulness impacts not just us, but future generations. How might your choices today shape the faith of your family, friends, or community? Is there a specific example you can think of?
David tells Solomon to “do the work” God has given him. Is there something you sense God has been nudging you to do, but you’ve been putting it off? What’s one small action you could take this week to move forward?

Sermon Clips

We always have a reason to get here and to want to be here because no matter what mood we came in with, would we came in with. Yeah. You know, I love to say, like, David, like, man, just a second in your presence changes all that, right? Like, I already spent a thousand years, you know, in your presence than anywhere else anyway. [00:42:14]

We're coming to a place in David's life where think of this kind of like a commencement speech that David is giving in first chronicles chapter 28 this is a time of transition in his life this is a time where he's coming to the end where he's going to hand off his responsibilities as king to his son and he's giving an address not just to his son but to all of israel and he's speaking and he's going to drop some wisdom here that actually are words to live by now these are not things you're going to probably find in a commencement speech too many places but these are words that if we build our life on them will change how we go forward from here. [00:46:55]

If you've ever wondered if you have a calling on your life the answer is yes see sometimes we think we got it we sometimes we think calling just means to be in ministry, like full -time, like I'm a pastor or a worship leader or a missionary. No, calling is what we are as God's people because he's got a mission for us to be on. So every single one of you has a calling. Wherever you are placed, whatever age you are, God's got a plan and he's got a mission for your life that he wants you to fulfill, that he wants you to build something that only he's called you to build. [00:51:15]

Don't let yourself be taught, or talk yourself into the lie that God can't use you because you don't have the experience you're supposed to have, or you're not in the place you thought you should be. He's got a calling in your life right where you are. [00:52:05]

Nothing will influence your life more than being around people who love Jesus and put his word the proper place in their life. [00:54:41]

David is saying the same thing to the nation of Israel. Like, this is not just Solomon's task to take on here. As a people, we have to be people who completely trust God's word and are careful to do everything he tells us to do, because it will impact our entire nation going forward. [00:54:49]

We are a people of convenience. We are people of comfort. We are people of comfort zone. We are the Amazon generation. Two days or less shipping, or I'm angry, right? If it's not microwavable, I won't eat it. Like, we have this convenience mentality, and God's saying, listen, like, this is not about you to decide what's convenient for you. This is, like, do you trust my word, and will you do it? [00:56:57]

We got to get to stir our heads, guys, that what you're doing now, how you're following Jesus now, is not just about what you are doing right now. It is how it will impact the generations to come after you. [00:57:28]

There is a blessing that comes when we take God's word seriously now in our lives that extends to our kids, to our kids' kids, to our kids' kids' kids, and beyond. [00:58:40]

The secret of my success was not that i was a good warrior it was not that i was a good musician it was not that i knew how to take care of sheep really well it was not that i made all the right choices because clearly he did not but he said the secret of my success the way that god has used me even through all my failures is that i have always sought to know him personally to experience his presence. [01:02:02]

Obedience flows from relationship what god's called you to it's only going to be sustained by the relationship you have with him your willingness to build what he's calling you to build your willingness to go where he's called you to go comes from that relationship you have with him david says don't just know about god get to know god this is a two -way relationship. [01:03:11]

When you get to know God intimately, it creates a fullness and a peace where you want to give him your whole heart and follow him with everything you have and a willing mind. [01:07:28]

He doesn't want our whole heart just to feed his ego. He wants our whole heart to protect us. Because when he has our whole heart, it keeps us out of a whole lot of trouble. Just ask David. [01:08:08]

When you know him intimately, here's the thing. That's why that comes first. Because when you get to experience his goodness, you can't help but give him your whole heart. [01:09:27]

Trying to fulfill God's calling your life with a divided heart never works. [01:10:50]

We can be strong and courageous not because we are strong and courageous because he is powerful and he is in us and his authority walks through us when we go out and do what he's called us to do. But we got work to do, people. [01:13:07]

If you have breath in your lungs, God's still got purpose for your life and he wants to use you wherever you are. [01:13:56]

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter. [01:14:16]

What you should be most afraid of is ignoring his presence and his power and accomplishing a whole bunch of stuff that doesn't matter. [01:14:32]

This is not a we do it and God helps. No, this is we rely fully on his power and his presence, and he sends us and comes with us, says we're doing this together. [01:15:15]

When you know that the work God has given you has purpose, it gives you the ability to do it with worship. [01:19:00]

If you've never experienced it or you know that you know that you know that God loves you and he is in your life, sit in his presence until you have that experience and don't give up until you get it. [01:20:35]

God doesn't want reluctant, like, workers. He wants joyful servants who are saying, I get to do this because I love you so much because you love me so much. Let's do this thing together. Let's go. Let's build. I'm ready to do the work. [01:21:15]

On my own strength, I got nothing. But with you, we can do. David says in here, in one of his psalms, in Psalm 68, I think it talks about, with my God, I can scale a wall. I can jump over it. Like, he's basically saying, with God, I can do anything. [01:21:29]

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