Daily Devotional

October 15th, 2026
by Pastor Wil Staley

"The Joy of Laying the Foundation"

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – "Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: 'Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.'" (ESV)

When David led the assembly of Israel in offering gifts for the construction of the Temple, he was preparing a house of worship he would never step foot inside of. God had made it clear that the completion of the Temple would belong to the next generation— his son Solomon. Yet, David did not withhold his resources, nor did he grumble that he would not live to see the final glory of the building. Instead, his heart overflowed with praise and thanksgiving simply for the privilege of contributing to the groundwork. David understood a fundamental truth of the Christian walk: God calls us to faithful stewardship of the process, while the ultimate results remain in His hands.

As a volleyball coach, I frequently remind our players that victory is rarely achieved on the night of the game alone. Long before we step on the court, the outcome is shaped in the unseen, repetitive work of daily practice—the fundamentals, the conditioning, and the discipline to execute small duties faithfully. When players fixate solely on the scoreboard, anxiety begins to settle in; yet, when they dedicate themselves to the daily discipline of the process, the outcome naturally takes care of itself.

I think a similar principle governs our spiritual lives and our labor within the local body. We live in a culture that expects immediate gratification and measurable outcomes. Yet, the work of the Kingdom is largely generational. We sow seeds in our children, invest in our ministries, and uphold the preaching of God's Word, knowing that much of the fruit may be harvested long after our earthly labors are complete. Our calling as believers is not to secure instant praise or personal legacy, but to yield our time, talents, and treasure cheerfully for the glory of God. When our focus shifts from our own immediate results to God's eternal purpose, labor becomes a joyful act of worship.

EMAIL PASTOR WIL STALEY

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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