SCRIPTURE: Numbers 18
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The tabernacle is the center of the Israelite existence, and the priests, levites, tithes and offerings are set up to maintain its central place. 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!
Jesus is God’s best given to us. But like Aaron, God also gives Jesus the support He needs, in the disciples. And when the disciples take over the mission, God gives them disciples, and the numbers keep multiplying. Together this growing army of servants is a witness to the whole world of the central place of God among us. We are witnesses to this fact. Jesus prays, “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] 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. 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.
The Levites were set apart, selected and dedicated to do the work of the Lord at the tent of meeting. The priests and the Levites were set apart and they were taken care of by the offerings of the people. This was the word of the Lord. And although they had no land as an inheritance, the Lord God was their inheritance.
Today I must give my best to the Lord. It is Christ Jesus whom I serve. He is my Ruler and He will take care of all my needs, if I but trust and obey. I must surrender all to His will for my life. And that is only a possibility if I am in tune with Him. I need to hear His voice as I serve Him in the world today. I too have been set apart for service. Do this and live, that is what the Master said. Live and do this. Lord give me the ears to hear Your voice speaking to me clearly.
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.