SCRIPTURE: Joshua 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. [Joshua 18:7] I had a tough time making a connection between this passage and the message of Jesus. The passage is about the mapping of the land, the selection of areas by lot, and the inheritance of Benjamin. In the midst of this we also hear again about the Levites, who do not receive a portion of the land. Their inheritance is the task of serving the Lord. Their daily bread does not come from the land, but from their serving the Lord. Their food is to do the work of the Lord.
‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’ [John 4:34] Jesus found satisfaction in doing God’s work. He was not looking for wealth or success in a worldly sense, He wanted to please God. He was the ultimate Levite, and He calls us to follow Him, to be Levites – servant of the Lord in the land, less concerned about things than about doing the Lord’s work. And trusting that the Lord will provide for our daily bread.
Can I say this, is this my heart? I want it to be. I can imagine what it would be like to be more fulfilled by following God than by meeting my needs. To find greater joy in doing His work, than in my own agenda. I have met people like this, you can hear it in their words and see it in their actions that they find the greatest pleasure or delight in living for Jesus.
I am also a sent one. I have work to do. He has placed me here for a purpose. You might say, like Levi, we have unique callings. What our task is differs from person to person, but each one of us has a unique calling. It is our responsibility to figure out what it is, and to do it.
A long time ago, I prayed through a mission statement for myself: to have a close personal walk with God, and to help others have the same. Since then this has expanded to include raising up leaders in this cause. And the context of this is primarily the Ajax area. So with increasing clarity, I am getting a sense of WHO God has called me to be, WHAT I am to be doing, and WHERE I am to do it. I can still work out better HOW I will do it. But now to see this as my unique calling – like the Levites, like Jesus – a calling which feeds my soul, which is my inheritance!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for calling me, and helping me clarify my call. This is my desire, my food, that I would delight in doing this more than anything else.
How long wll you wait – – – to claim what the Lord God gave to You. God is faithful in mapping out the land given to them, but the people did not act on the promises of God taking claim to the land for a whole year because – – – they were fearful? they were satisfied with their daily lives? they didn’t lay claim to the promises of God?
God is with His people. He again shows is patience and faithfulnes with His stubborn people. And so today – – – how do I lay claim on His promises? I am His and He is mine and I need to go forward this day in His power – with His leading and guiding me – laying claim that He is in control in all I do and say. This too is the day that the Lord has made. Let’s be glad and rejoice in it and go forward doing His will.
This is the day(2)
That the lord has made(2)
We will rejoice(2)
And be glad in it(2)
This is the day that the lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it…
Take and receive
Take and receive O lord my liberty
Take all my will my mind my memory
Do thou direct and govern all and sway
Do what thou wilt, command and I obey
Only thy grace and love on me bestow
Possessing these all riches I forego
All things I hold and all I own are thine
Thine was the gift to thee I all resign
Do thou direct and govern all and sway
Do what thou wilt, command and I obey