From: June 20, 2025
“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers” (Acts 13:36 ESV).
The apostle Paul described King David’s life with a powerful summary during his sermon in Pisidian Antioch. He said David “served the purpose of God in his own generation.” Though David had many ups and downs—moments of triumph and times of failure—this epitaph described his life. He was remembered not for his fame, wealth, or power, but for faithfully fulfilling God’s calling in the time and place in which he lived. After serving God’s purpose, David “fell asleep,” a common biblical metaphor for death, and was laid to rest with his ancestors. Paul’s point was to contrast David’s earthly death and decay with the resurrection of Jesus, who did not see corruption. Still, this statement about David gives us a compelling vision for our own lives: we too are called to serve God’s purpose in our generation.
We were not born by accident or placed in this generation by chance. The same God who created David and called him has also created and called us. Each of us has a general purpose: to glorify God and make Him known. But we also have a specific purpose—good works that God prepared in advance for us to do. Like David, we must seek to know God’s will and walk in it, trusting Him with our whole lives. We may not be kings or public figures, but we are God’s people, chosen to serve Him in this time and place. Let us ask ourselves today: Are we living for God’s purpose in our generation? Are we being faithful with the gifts, opportunities, and calling He has given us?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for having a purpose for us in this life. You have placed us in this generation for a reason. Help us to discern the specific ways You have called us to serve You. Give us faith to obey, courage to act, and perseverance to finish well. May we, like David, be remembered as those who served Your purpose in our time. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 20, 2024
‘But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?”’ (1 Kings 22:7 ESV).
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, requested that Ahab, king of Israel, would inquire of the LORD before they united to go to war against Syria. Ahab gathered his 400 prophets and they all positively affirmed the Lord’s support. However, Jehoshaphat was a righteous king and he took note that the prophets were not worshipers of the LORD (In most English translations, all caps “LORD” is used to translate “Yahweh,” while “Lord” is used to translate “Adonai.”). He asked whether Ahab still had a “Yahweh” prophet. Ahab did, but he said that he hated him because the prophet never spoke good for him. Sure enough, when the Yahweh prophet was brought before the kings, he prophesied Ahab’s death, which in fact, came to pass.
The modern reader may consider Ahab foolish for preferring to surround himself with preachers that only told him what he wanted to hear, while rejecting the one who called him to repentance with the truth. Yet, Ahab’s generation is here today and Ahab’s prophets are too. For as the apostle Paul warned, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (1 Tim. 4:3-4).
What type of preaching do you prefer?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we want to hear preachers who preach Your Word. We love Your Word and we are filled with joy even when such preaching calls us to repentance. For we want to please You in all things. We pray today for preachers that will stand and preach Your Word boldly and fully. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 20, 2023
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do” (Acts 13:38-39 NLT).
Paul and Barnabas preached justification by faith in Christ alone while visiting the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, which was a prominent Roman city located in what is now Southwest Turkey. This was Paul’s first missionary journey. He and Barnabas made it clear that what the law of Moses could never do, namely, make us right with God through trying to keep the law, Christ had done (See Rom. 8:3).
The only way to be justified, to be made right with God and to have our sins forgiven, is through believing in Jesus Christ. For it is by believing in Christ that His righteousness is imputed to us.
I suppose they could’ve preached about the importance of placing our faith in Christ without mentioning the law of Moses. This would’ve made their preaching perhaps more palatable to the Jews. However, they wanted to make it clear that it was not faith in Christ plus the works of the law, but faith in Christ alone that makes us right with God. The law cannot save.
How can we be made right with God? By faith in Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome: “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to die in our place that we might believe in Him to receive His righteousness in place of our sin. Help us to share this Good News with our generation today, being careful not to add law-keeping to its message. For it is believing in Christ alone that saves. Empower us to proclaim this Good News as Your Son has commissioned us to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 20, 2022
WHOSE PLANS ARE YOU TRYING TO FOLLOW?
Even in the midst of troubles, David trusted that the Lord was at work in his life. For even when things didn’t go according to his own plans, he believed in the faithful love of God to work out His plans for his life. David trusted that God had his best in mind and preferred God’s plans over his own.
Do you ever wonder what God is up to in your life? Do you spend time in prayer asking God to make your plans come about, or do you ask for God’s plan? Have you come to the place in your life where you trust that God has better plans for you than you do?
In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Rom. 8:28).
Whose plans are you trying to follow today? Let us join with David and Paul in trusting the Lord to work out His plans for our life.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are worried and anxious about many things today, but we choose to trust You to work out your plans for us. Even as we pray this, we feel the peace of Christ come over us afresh. For knowing that You are in charge, we are at rest. Now strengthen us by Your Spirit to do Your will today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: June 20, 2016
What more fitting epitaph of your life might be given than that you served God’s purpose in your own generation? Such was the summary of David’s life offered by the apostle Paul. God has a purpose for your life. It is both general and specific. It is general in that every person whom God has made, was made to glorify Him. It is specific in that each of us is called to serve God’s purpose in our “own generation,” offering our unique God-given gifts to serve His call. Two questions: 1) Do you know your specific purpose? 2) Are you obeying and trusting God to do it? As Queen Esther was asked, “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
From: June 20, 2012
David wanted God’s plan and trusted Him to work it out. When you pray, do you ask for God’s plan or do you ask Him to help with yours? When we call Christ “Lord,” we are giving up control of our lives and yielding it to Him. He is either Lord of all or not lord at all. Surrender you plans to God. His plans are better than ours.