The Priest-Job

My morning reading took me to Numbers 4. In that passage, God assigned tasks to each of the groups of Levites. The Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites all had specific tasks for attending to the holy items of the tabernacle when the camp set out. (I think of them as the K people, G people, and M people.)

Every item was to be treated as precious and handled in a very specific manner. Each group had an area for which they, personally, were responsible. 

No one else was allowed to do their work, which meant that, if they didn't do their work, it wouldn't get done.

As I read those words this morning, I wondered how well that would work in today's society. I can just imagine a pastor saying, "Everyone whose last name begins with the letter T will clean toilets and everyone with the letter K will clean the kitchen." 

Yeah, right. That's so not happening. There would be an uproar. The K people might think their gifting qualified them for a different job. The T people might think their assignment was beneath them. 

There would be one group, though, who would always come to the rescue. The S people, the ones who have the Servant Hearts, would say, "No problem. We'll do whatever needs to be done."

I have a friend who was headed to her church one night last week. "Why are you doing that job?" I asked her.

"If I don't do it, who will?" 

There was a need. No one volunteered. She did it. Just like always.

We need more S people. 

According to Peter, we are all supposed to be S people, called to be priests, charged with doing the work of the Kingdom. 

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 esv

All of us in the body of Christ are called to be priests, which means there is a job for us to do that must be done. What is that job? The job of the priest, even now, is to care for and protect, to handle well, the holy things of God.

We don't have tabernacles and arks and holy lamps now, but we do have something even more precious. The Word of God. 

It's our job as disciple-priests to know what Scripture says and live it out in a way that glorifies God. 

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 nasb

Study. Learn. Live it out. It's the way of the disciple. It's the way of the priest. If we don't do it, it won't be done, so let's do our part. Every day. 
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Be sure to check the updated Prayer List 

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In case you missed one of the past week's posts, here are the links: Peace Only Comes When We Have Dealt With Our Sin, Starting a Prayer List, Priorities and the Goat Demons: Who has first priority in your life?, Death is Swallowed Up in Victory,  The Turning Point: A Grateful Heart, You are Greatly Loved, A Little Taste of Heaven: Body of Christ, and Friday Night with Friends: Food and Faith

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