DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018 SHATTERED YET SERVING TEXT: LEVITICUS 10:12-20

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018

SHATTERED YET SERVING

TEXT: LEVITICUS 10:12-20

KEY VERSE: And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy” (Leviticus 10:12)

Vance Havner, the great American revivalist, once observed that “God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume…”

The sudden and shocking death of Aaron’s two grown-up sons in a swift divine punishment must have had a crushing effect on his family. In their role as priests, Nadab and Abihu (Aaron’s children) had offered strange fire before the Lord and were killed. Aaron and his remaining sons were still hurting from the grievous bereavement when Moses, under God’s direction, instructed them to carry on with their sacred service. Indeed, they had been instructed not to mourn for the dead lest they give the impression that they resented the divine judgement or were bogged down by it.

In the text, Moses gives further instructions regarding the meat offering. Unfortunately, they burnt the sin offering instead of eating it – not out of rebellion but because of their confused state. In all, Aaron and his remaining sons continued in their consecration and service despite being crushed.

God expects no less consecration from every Christian. In a sense, every believer is a priest to God and must have the consciousness and consecration that befits the office (1 Peter 2:9). Like Aaron, our love and devotion to God should transcend our earthly affiliations and aspirations. As such, temporary afflictions and adversaries should not keep us from our devotion to God. No amount of trial should make us display rebellious attitude towards God. This calls for absolute consecration and brokenness.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The broken Christian is a mighty weapon in God’s arsenal.
COVER to COVER: GENESIS 32-34.

PONDER:
1. 2 of Aaron' sons received instant capital judgement for going to the alter in a drunken state (v9) to offer strange fire (v1,2). What lesson can those who are given priviledge to serve on the alter of God learn from this?
2. Why was it inappropriate for Aaron and his living sons to mourn for the dead in this particular case?
3. Love for God and His work must supersede any filial or earthly relationship or losses. Is it true with you? If not, why not?
4. God made provision for the feeding of the priests and their family members ahead of time. What can we learn from that? v12-15.
5. Labouring for God, despite hardships, has both earthly and eternal rewards.

HYMN: Go Labour On

1 Go, labor on; spend, and be spent,
thy joy to do the Father's will;
it is the way the Master went;
should not the servant tread it still?

2 Go, labor on; 'tis not for naught;
thine earthly loss is heav'nly gain;
men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
the Master praises--what are men?

3 Go labor on; enough while here
if He shall praise thee, if He deign
thy willing heart to mark and cheer;
no toil for Him shall be in vain.

4 Go, labor on while it is day;
the world's dark night is hast'ning on.
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away;
It is not thus that souls are won.

5 Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray;
be wise the erring soul to win;
go forth into the world's highway,
compel the wand'rer to come in.

6 Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;
for toil comes rest, for exile home;
soon shall you hear the Bridegroom's voice,
the midnight cry, "Behold, I come."

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, I hereby consecrate that I will not allow any relationship to rival my love for you.
2. Lord, I consecrate that my commitment to your service will be unconditional.
3. Have mercy on me and let me not serve you and perish.
3. Let the earthly reward of consecration come to full manifestation in every area of our pastors life including their families.