I am continually blown away by the breadth and depth of God's Word. The 66 books written over a span of 1,500 years do more than dovetail with one another but are in perfect harmony concerning God in the most minute detail. It is a book one can read for decades and daily discover new connections never before understood, personal revelations from the living God who breathed it into existence. It does far more than provide intrigue or facts but refreshes us with all we need by God's grace. God sees our needs met by His grace.
The other night I read something I had forgotten about, how God organised the camp of the Hebrews after the exodus from Egypt. God's visible presence hovered over the tabernacle in the centre of the camp with three tribes to the north, south, east, and west. See what Numbers 1:52-53 explains concerning those of the tribe of Levi, those chosen to serve the LORD in facilitating worship of God and teaching of His laws: "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; 53 but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony." Instead of receiving an inheritance of land, God was to be their inheritance (Deut. 10:9, Joshua 13:33).
The Levites were responsible before God to be sanctified according to the Law of Moses so they could offer and partake of the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle. Only purified Levites were permitted to handle the holy things of the tabernacle of meeting. They were to camp encircling the tabernacle so there would "be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel," providing a sanctified buffer which preserved their fellows. It was not because Levi or his children were the most pious or deserving of Israel's sons but were chosen by God's grace to be servants about His business.
This caused me to consider how followers of Jesus Christ provide a blessing and benefit to others who do not know or believe in God: interceding in prayer for individuals and nations, serving with the love of Jesus, filled with generosity, extending grace, showing kindness and compassion for one another. Jesus called His disciples the "salt of the earth," and salt liberally applied to meat enables it to be preserved for a long time in the right conditions. Whilst we serve our LORD Jesus Christ, chosen and sanctified by grace similar to the Levites, God's presence in us makes a difference to everyone else in the world. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it; we are prone to take much for granted. I believe the unbelieving world benefits more from Christians than they could possibly realise--even as God operates in a realm beyond our knowledge or observance. God doesn't need us but makes a good difference to the world through us.
All throughout the scriptures there is the reoccurring theme of God's grace: grace to bring life where there was once nothing, grace to reveal Himself to wretched sinners, grace to preserve us from wrath we wholly deserve, and grace to use us to bless and save others. Ephesians 2:13 reminds us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We who were once aliens of the commonwealth of the kingdom of God have been brought into God's inner circle, by grace having been made one with Jesus Christ, even called God's beloved children. Praise the LORD!
The other night I read something I had forgotten about, how God organised the camp of the Hebrews after the exodus from Egypt. God's visible presence hovered over the tabernacle in the centre of the camp with three tribes to the north, south, east, and west. See what Numbers 1:52-53 explains concerning those of the tribe of Levi, those chosen to serve the LORD in facilitating worship of God and teaching of His laws: "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; 53 but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony." Instead of receiving an inheritance of land, God was to be their inheritance (Deut. 10:9, Joshua 13:33).
The Levites were responsible before God to be sanctified according to the Law of Moses so they could offer and partake of the sacrifices offered at the tabernacle. Only purified Levites were permitted to handle the holy things of the tabernacle of meeting. They were to camp encircling the tabernacle so there would "be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel," providing a sanctified buffer which preserved their fellows. It was not because Levi or his children were the most pious or deserving of Israel's sons but were chosen by God's grace to be servants about His business.
This caused me to consider how followers of Jesus Christ provide a blessing and benefit to others who do not know or believe in God: interceding in prayer for individuals and nations, serving with the love of Jesus, filled with generosity, extending grace, showing kindness and compassion for one another. Jesus called His disciples the "salt of the earth," and salt liberally applied to meat enables it to be preserved for a long time in the right conditions. Whilst we serve our LORD Jesus Christ, chosen and sanctified by grace similar to the Levites, God's presence in us makes a difference to everyone else in the world. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it; we are prone to take much for granted. I believe the unbelieving world benefits more from Christians than they could possibly realise--even as God operates in a realm beyond our knowledge or observance. God doesn't need us but makes a good difference to the world through us.
All throughout the scriptures there is the reoccurring theme of God's grace: grace to bring life where there was once nothing, grace to reveal Himself to wretched sinners, grace to preserve us from wrath we wholly deserve, and grace to use us to bless and save others. Ephesians 2:13 reminds us, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We who were once aliens of the commonwealth of the kingdom of God have been brought into God's inner circle, by grace having been made one with Jesus Christ, even called God's beloved children. Praise the LORD!
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