In Numbers, God had commanded that the Israelites establish cities of refuge and cities for the Levites. The Promised Land is not just going to be a land of milk and honey, but a land of worship and a land that is just and fair. In our passage today, Joshua obeys that command and establishes those cities.
Rather than give the Levites their own allotment of land, God chose to disperse the holy priests throughout the land. This provided easy access to a priest for all of the Israelites. The priests’ job was to act as a representative between man and God. They made sacrifices and executed rituals, taught and ministered, and interceded for others.
How does this relate to us today? First Peter 2:5 tells us that we are a royal priesthood and gives us a job description. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Our job description continues in 1 Peter 2:11 and 12 “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Our duties of the royal priesthood are not just meant to be fulfilled on Sunday mornings during church. We are to be dispersed among the community, fulfilling our duties as a part of our lifestyle that we live daily, just like Levites. We can shine the light of Jesus at home, work, school, and in the community so that others can see the glory of God!
Today, I encourage you to give yourself a job evaluation. On a scale of 1-10, how well are you fulfilling your duties as a member of a royal priesthood? Are you:
- Declaring the praises of Him who called you out of darkness? Share the good news! Share your personal testimony! Sing his praises while you get ready in the morning! Spend time praising Him in prayer and song for who he is, what he has and will do, and who you are because of him!
- Abstaining from sinful desires? Avoid situations where you might be tempted. Pray for strength to overcome your strongholds.
- Living a good life among non-believers so that others may see your good deeds which glorify God? Look for patterns and habits in your life that don’t shine the light of Jesus. We should allow the light of Jesus to shine through us in the way we dress, act, react, speak and serve.
Today’s post submitted by Kelly Coxe
Here is an excellent memory verse from our reading passage:
ReplyDeleteNot a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. Josh 21:45
We can also rest assured everything God has promised us form His Word shall come to pass. Here are but a few promises we can be assured of deliverance from: from all our fears (Ps 34:4), from strife (Ps 31:20), from distress (Ps 120:1), from destruction (Ps 103:4), from evil (Pro 2:12), from transgressions (Ps. 39:8), from affliction (Ps 119:153), from opposition (Ps 119:134), from hell (Prov 23:14), from the present evil world (Gal. 1:4), from lying lips and a deceitful tongue (Ps 120:2), from every evil work (2 Tim 4:18), from workers of iniquity (Ps. 59:2), from temptations (2 Pet 2:9), from unreasonable and wicked men (2Th 3:2), from the wrath to come (1Th 1:10), from our time of trouble (Ps 41:1), from the power of darkness (Col 1:13) just to name a few.
Yes, not a word shall fail of any good thing which the Lord has promised to do for us. It shall all come to pass.
Amen!! Some of approx. 1,500(Somewhere close to that number, I think) promises found throughout the Bible.
ReplyDelete**Well, it's Thursday, and thanks to KW's referencing the fact that Christ died late Thursday night, today is the day of our Lord's sacrifice for all mankind.
Until KW discussed this not too long ago, I had not really thought of the Thursday topic before. I knew the Sabbath is really Saturday, and that Constantine changed the first day of the week to Sunday(the day of the sun);however, it never really registered in my mind that that means Christ died on Thursday until recently...Thanks KW!
Peace and love!!!!!
Amen!! Just a few of more than 1,500 promises found in the Bible.
ReplyDelete**Well, today is the special day!!
Thank you KW for recently discussing the fact that Christ actually died on Thursday night;therefore, "Good Thursday" would be more appropriate and accurate.
I knew that Constantine changed the calendar to allow for Sunday(the day of the sun) to be the Sabbath when actually Saturday should be the first day of the week.
**However, until recently it had not really registered in my mind that that means Christ died on Thursday. So thanks KW!
Peace, love, and blessings to whomever reads this posting!
thxs for the blessings. Happy Resurrection Day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly for your words of encouragement! I pray that we will always remember our job description in 1 Peter 2: 11 and 12. Thanks again!
ReplyDelete