An inheritance forever invisible
The life of a believer is never easy- that much we are assured over and over in the Word of God! The Bible is filled with people of faith who questioned and even raged against God when they slammed head first into the difficulties and trials of the human experience in a world given to sin and darkness, yet God showed Himself to be faithful to the end- and He will do the same for you. Worship Him – unflinching, determined, courageous – and when you struggle, or stumble or have questions, doubts and fears – run to Him with those things, worship Him more, and He will prove Himself to be all that you’ll need to press on! (Psalm 3:1-4)
In the book of Joshua, when the Hebrews had finally overtaken the Promised Land and it had come time to portion out land allotments to the tribes of Israel, there was one tribe who received… nothing. Who? The Levites. In Exodus 32, the Levites had set themselves apart – into eternity – through their absolute and complete, unwavering loyalty to the Lord and were given an eternal position before God as ministers, priests and worshippers, (Malachi 2:4-6 and Exodus 32:25-29) but…. while everyone else was getting land and blessings and a place to call their own, the tribe of Levi got…. nothing?! Doesn’t it sometimes seem that way even today when you’re walking with the Lord? Sometimes you look around and see others – in the world and in Christ- receiving blessings that you thought maybe you’d get too? And while you’re not laboring in Christ and contending in the Spirit, obedient in worship and faithful to Him so that you can receive blessings, there is a part of you that sometimes wonders if God notices and why you seem to have… nothing? Perhaps the Levites felt the same way? But wait.
The Levites – those separated people who were dedicated to the service and worship of the Lord, those who were set apart to bear His presence, received an inheritance forever invisible to the naked eye, yet God considered it a much higher honor than what everyone else was given.
Deuteronomy 10:8-9 says, “At that time the Lord, separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him.” The Levites – those separated people who were dedicated to the service and worship of the Lord, those who were set apart to bear His presence, received an inheritance forever invisible to the naked eye, yet God considered it a much higher honor than what everyone else was given. Everyone else were still “God’s people” but the Levites were set apart to minister to Him – that’s worship! When you live a life set apart from the crowd and dedicate your life to praise and worship the Lord, to minister to Him, you may not have it as easy as everyone else seems to have it, (you may even have it worse!) but you have an invisible inheritance in Him and from Him that can never be lost and one which God considers to be the higher blessing.
Thought for today
In Malachi 2: 5-6, the Lord spoke of His covenant with the tribe of Levi saying, “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me and was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity.”
Take heart from this today- God sees you. He sees your labors. He sees your worship. He sees your passion. He sees you living a life set apart to Him. Don’t look around you at what others have- their success, their connections, their fame, their “blessings” – it will make you feel like you have “nothing” BUT God values what HE has given you much more. Read this and press on today:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3-7
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