SCRIPTURE: Numbers 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. [John 17:6]
Jesus is God’s best given to us.
But like Aaron, God also gives Jesus the support He needs, in the disciples.
God gives the Levites to the priests, and the offerings to them all, to provide for the work.
Their task is to offer their best to the Lord as they serve Him.
No second-hand or second-rate offerings.
He gives His best, and expects their best.
Nothing but the best for the best!
The Lord gives the twelve disciples to Jesus to help Him in His temple service.
He equips them, and they in turn serve Him by obeying His truth.
When the apostles take over Jesus’ mission, God gives them disciples, and the numbers keep multiplying.
And the Lord adds to their numbers daily those who are being saved [Acts 2:47].
And they in turn train others to carry it further.
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” [2 Timothy 2:2]
And so on, and so on…
In one sense, I can say that I am God’s gift to Jesus – its not as vain as it sounds.
I am one of the disciples given to Jesus to help Him fulfill His kingdom work.
I am responsible for the spiritual house, for the spiritual community.
I must offer the best and holiest part of me to His service.
You might say, this is my tithe.
Or to use Jesus words, I have to “obey” His word.
This is my calling, this is your calling.
All of us as Jesus-followers have been assigned this task as spiritual temple servants.
Am I doing my best?
Am I giving my all?
Is my whole heart in this, or am I only serving to half my capacity?
The Lord is not measuring the actions or the gifts, He is measuring the heart behind them.
PRAYER:
Lord, You gave Your best for me, You ask my best for You! Heart, soul, mind and strength… for Your glory, for Your purpose.
Two thoughts came to mind after the reading: set apart and the best.
The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry. Among the people, they were set apart to do just that with all their power – to serve the Lord. They were God selected and their duty to serve was a gift from the Lord.
All of God’s people are priests whose duty is to serve Him wholeheartedly. That is their purpose in life – my purpose. As they were selected, as prophets were selected, as disciples were selected, as reformers were selected, so too are Christians selected to serve Him in ALL things – living for Jesus.
We have no inheritance because all is the Lord’s. The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. It is His. Serve Him and give Him what is His via the tithe and use all the rest for His service. Dedicated to the Lord in all things – all things are His! Holy to the Lord. As His champion I can live forever, but if not, I will die.
What’s my purpose in life? To live for Jesus. He is the joy in my journey. My SonShine.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
Refrain
Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.
Refrain
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.
Refrain
Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.