ARRANGEMENTS FOR SERVICE

“This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him (1 Chron. 24:19 NKJV).

A review of this chapter reveal quite a few names. While the list of names may be boring to some, there are some good lessons to be found interspersed among the names. In our verse we have one such lesson about service: it involves the place of service, the plan of service, and the precept for service.

Place of service - The “house of the Lord” is the place of service. During this time, the “house of the Lord” was the Temple. Today, churches are called the “house of the Lord.” And like the Temple, our churches are a place of service. Many folk seem to forget this and go to church simply to be a spectator. Yet, we are called to be servants not spectators at church which is our “house of the Lord.”

Plan of service - “This was the schedule of their service.” The names given in the preceding verses were listed according to their schedule of service in the Temple. This emphasized the importance of a plan in service. This means that in the service at church, efficient organization is needed. If a church is poorly organized, confusion will result and there will be much failure in getting the work done. It will also results in only a few doing most of the work, even when others are willing to help. All churches need to heed Paul’s advice to “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40).

Precept for service - “As the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.” The Temple service was to be done as God had commanded. This should apply to our churches as well. Just as God gave instructions as to who was to serve in the Temple, so it should be in the church. All service needs to be guided by the commands of God.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading NT)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“We are pardoned from sin, but we are not excused from service!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Discern

In Heb. 5:14 we read, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (NKJV).

Discern is the Greek word diakrisis (διάκρισις = dee-ak'-ree-sis). It is made up of two words: “dia” which separation, and “krino” which means decide, judge. Thus the word means distinguish, decide, judge, to differentiate. Literally, it means to distinguish between or making an impartial judgment between two things. It describes the ability to evaluate and decide or to clearly discern

In Classical Greek, diakrisis means separation and division together with such additional meanings as quarrel and struggle. In the Septuagint the word means to make a distinction, examine, choose, and render judgment in the sense of dispensing justice. In the New Testament diakrisis essentially means the differentiation between good and bad.

Discernment speaks of the power to see what is not evident to the average mind. It is the power to distinguish one thing from another, such as truth from falsehood, virtue from vice, and good from evil. The ability to discern good and evil is a vital part of Christian maturity. It is as we feed on the Word of God and apply it in daily life, that our inner spiritual senses get their exercise and become strong and keen.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – That He would be surrounded and ridiculed by His enemies (Psalm 22:7-8) New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 27:39-44; Mark 15:29-32

Bible Facts

Vast fossil deposits anticipated (Genesis 7). When plants and animals die, they decompose rapidly. Yet billions of life forms around the globe have been preserved as fossils. Geologists now know that fossils only form if there is rapid deposition of life buried away from scavengers and bacteria. This agrees exactly with what the Bible says occurred during the global Flood.

Bible Quiz

What name did Abraham give the place where he was willing to offer up his son Isaac?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What nation considered eating with the Hebrews an abomination? Egyptians (Gen. 43:32).

That’s in the Bible

"You're the man”

“Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul” (2 Sam. 12:7 NKJV).

The background for our verse is about Nathan telling David a parable about a rich man and a poor man. In the story, the rich man steals the poor man’s one and only lamb in order to feed one of his guests. David, not knowing that Nathan was speaking figuratively, grew very angry and demanded that justice be served for such an act of thievery. Nathan then told David that he, David, was “the man.” David had taken another man’s lone lamb (Bathsheba). In an effort to cover up his sinful act of adultery, David made certain that the woman’s husband (Uriah) was killed in battle. The phrase “you are the man” indicates someone thinks another is a highly admirable person. In the Bible, the expression is a finger-pointing accusation towards an adulterous murderer.

Did You Know – Christian History

Otis Gibson was born December 8, 1826 on a farm in Moira, New York. He was a Methodist pastor, best known for his missionary work among the Chinese. After graduation, Gibson was appointed a missionary to Foochow and on April 3, 1855 Gibson and his wife set sail from New York Harbor for Shanghai. On that day Gibson wrote, “Believing that God ordered our course, we feel content and satisfied that all is for the best.

In 1856, Otis Gibson and his Methodist co-laborers established two churches in the city; they were the first two Methodist churches built in East Asia. In 1859, Gibson established a Western-style boarding school for laymen and ministers. He also helped in translating the Bible and other Christian books into the local Foochow dialect. In 1857, Otis Gibson and Robert Maclay baptized Ting Ang, the first Methodist convert in China.

Returning to the US in 1868 Gibson was assigned to the Methodist Church’s Chinese Domestic Mission in San Francisco. There he learned the Cantonese dialect and opened many missions and churches. Gibson also wrote a Chinese-English Dictionary and translated the New Testament into Cantonese. Gibson baptized his first convert in America, a young Chinese prostitute named Jin Ho in 1871. In his later life, Gibson made untiring and courageous efforts on behalf of the poor Chinese on the Pacific Coast. His landmark work The Chinese in America published in 1877, was a refutation against anti-Chinese sentiments. Gibson died in 1889 in San Francisco after a long illness.

A Little Humor

The story is told of a man who had a debt and for a long time failed to settle it with his debtors. One day seated outside his house, he saw his debtors coming and very quickly he called his young son and told him if anybody asks about his whereabouts, he should answer that he has gone for a journey to see his people in another village. He then quickly decided to hide behind a large cabinet in the living room. When the debtors arrived, they asked the young boy, “Son! Where is your father?” “He said he was going to another village to see his people.” the boy replied. The debtors asked the boy “When is he coming back?” Confused, the young boy rushed towards the house and to the cabinet shouting, “Dad! When are you coming back?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Salvation is not to be analyzed but realized!”