Daily Reading
Daily Thought
“From thirty years old up to fifty years old, you shall list them, all who can come to do duty, to do service in the tent of meeting” (Numbers 4:23). In the Hebrew, “to do the duty” literally reads “to war the warfare.” It is repeated several times in Numbers, chapter 4, verses 3, 30, 35, 39, and 43; and again in chapter 8, verse 24–this to describe the people who prepare the tabernacle and set the table for the sacrifices. To war the warfare–now that has punch to it.
The work of God, no matter what, will never be rightly done until we understand that, whatever else it might be, it is also warfare. Whether it is serving orphans and the poor, or serving cookies and coffee, we must elevate the estimate of our duties and our service. It is warfare. We live in neither a Christian nation nor a godly world, rather we have aligned ourselves to serve another King of Kings. We are allies of the One who strives to remove the misery of sin against a world that clings to its passions.
It is warfare, and the world will resist. It is a fight, and will always be so, if it is rightly done. The battle is waged, however, not by killing, but by dying, when we ourselves die to ourselves and our King becomes our life. We no longer belong to this world, but to a new creation, God’s Kingdom come, his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Daily Prayer
Our Father, You are our God and we are Your people. The family of God, brought together by the sacrifice of Your Son, receiving full inheritance of Your great and glorious treasures. Thank You, God.
By our love for one another, we show that we are Your disciples. May I be someone who looks out for the interests of others, who is quick to serve, who seeks out and fills needs. May I be someone who loves in action as well as word. May I fight the good fight by serving others, giving my life fully to You. May I stand for Your grace and truth.
Amen
Daily Question
Do you feel more at war or at peace with this world?