Day 46 One-Year Daily Bible Reading – Exodus 39-40; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12
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Become – to come, change, or grow to be; to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.
Becoming a Levite
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. – Exodus 40:13-16
Aaron was a Levite.
From my early days as a Christian with a very specific call into the ministry of prayer and as a prayer leader within the church I attended, I have identified myself as a Levite.
Levites have no earthly inheritance because the Lord Himself is their inheritance. That spoke to me!!!
My dad was a minister and man of God that died leaving no inheritance or blessing when he decided to end his life. His death and all the confusion surrounding it became my identity. Once I was born again, I didn’t want that as my identity or inheritance, and I asked God to take my history and make me “new” there as He had in so many other areas. It didn’t really seem possible but I asked and it didn’t happen immediately. But, one day in the prayer room, the Holy Ghost fell on me as I read Joshua 13:33. I felt that quickening; that knowing. The old grief and longing lifted as I felt my Father reveal to me that my “new” and true identity in Him is as it was before He laid the foundations of the earth. I was a Levite and though I didn’t fully understand at the time, I believe God anointed me that very day as He did Aaron’s sons.
But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them. – Joshua 13:33
Does that mean I am anything extra special? Not at all. We each have a call and an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. I don’t even feel I am all that good ministering. As it regards prayer, I am awkward at times, and so often, I stutter and stumble over my words… but I am driven to pray and passionate about the place of prayer and taking my place in it. I love to minister to the Lord and His people in that way.
Some may not get it or recognize it; some may not understand what I have written here at all, but that is okay!!! I am proud of my God-given heritage. What more could I ever want or need. My inheritance is the God of Israel Himself!!!
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Becoming a Fisher of Men
I Send My Messenger Before Which Shall Prepare Thy Way
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. – Mark 1:1-3
John Baptized and Preached the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of Sins
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; and preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. – Mark 1:4-8
Jesus was Baptized of John in Jordan
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. – Mark 1:9-11
Immediately the Spirit Driveth Him Into the Wilderness
And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. – Mark 1:12-13
Jesus Came Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. – Mark 1:14-15
Becoming a Fisher of Men
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. – Mark 1:16-17
They Forsook Their Nets and Followed Him
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. – Mark 1:18-20
He Entered the Synagogue and Taught
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. – Mark 1:21-28
What stood out to me in Mark 1:17 is that He will make me to become a fisher of men but there is a prerequisite. I must “come after” Him. I must follow. To follow Jesus means not only walking where He walks but doing the things He does. Keeping my eyes on Him; my ears attune to His voice, my mind meditating on all He has said to me as we walk, and my heart pure that I can even walk after Him without stumbling. Then He will make me to BECOME what He desires…and He desires me to become a fisher of men.
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Becoming Pure
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: – Psalms 35:13-15
David prayed and fasted for his enemies as though he were praying for his friends when they faced adversity. But his enemies rejoiced when misfortune came to his life. God had me turn this around in an interesting way today.
The Bible tells us to love and pray for our enemies. Through this verse, God asked me today, do you pray for your enemies with a pure heart, or do you do it for others to see but secretly harbor an attitude of happiness and arrogance when they fail?
God is dealing with all the impurities in my heart and revealing them to me one by one.
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Becoming Wise
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. – Proverbs 9:10
I am reminded that If I choose to live wisely, it is going to benefit me. If I decide to live foolishly, I will have to deal with the consequences of my decisions. My decisions do not change God, but they change the path I take in life and the rewards or consequences I reap.
I can choose to live a joyful life that honors God or a miserable life that takes me nowhere.
I can take the impurities that God has revealed in the verses from Psalm and foolishly deny they apply to me and reap the consequences. I can deal with them, repent and surrender to the Father’s correction reap the benefits of living in wisdom.
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Becoming Faithful: Finish the Work
And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. – Exodus 40:33-34
God loves and honors faithfulness. We often start something, and when our recognition for what we do wanes, we slow down and then quit. God gives assignments, and He wants us to finish them…for His glory! Finish because we are faithful to Him. Is there something He has commanded you to do that is half-finished and laid down in that state? Pick it back up and be faithful to finish. The glory of the Lord is at the finish line.
If anyone knows Melissa... 