| Day 257: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. A Father's PlanDavid said, "My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now." So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death. Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. "My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God," David told him. "But the Lord said to me, 'You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'"
(1 Chronicles 22:5-10) ReflectOut of David's tragic mistake came the purchase of a plot of land that would become the site of God's Temple, the symbol of God's presence among his people. Every time the people went to the Temple they would remember that God is their true King and that everyone, including their human king, is fallible and subject to sin. God told David he would not be the one to build the Temple. Instead, the task would be left to his son Solomon. David graciously accepted this "no" from God. He was not jealous of the fact that his son would have the honor of building God's Temple, but instead made preparations for Solomon to carry out his task. RespondWe can take steps now to prepare the way for our children or the children close to us (the children of friends or family members) to find and fulfill God's purpose. Sooner or later our children will have to make their own decisions, but we can help by supplying them with the proper tools: showing them how to pray and study God's Word, the difference between right and wrong, and the importance of church involvement. | 
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