1 Chronicles 6:1-30  Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 6:1-30.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 6:1 (NIV) 
1  The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 

On verses 1-30:  In these verses the Chronicler focuses his attention on the next tribe of Israel, the tribe of Levi, also known as the Levites.   Divided into three clans (the Gershonites, the Kohathites and Merarites), the Levites had a special assignment from God.  God appointed the Levites to be His servants to do the work necessary to help all the Israelites in their worship of the Lord.

In particular, Moses’ brother Aaron (who was a Kohathite) and his sons were to serve as priests for the people, offering sacrifices on behalf of the entire community (see v49).  That’s why verses 3-15 focus especially on Aaron and his sons, as they served as priests from the time that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, to the time when the kings of Judah like Solomon ruled (v10), to the time when Judah was exiled to Babylon (v15).   

While Aaron and his sons served as priests, all the other Levites were to assist Aaron and his sons by performing all the other practical, administrative and physical work necessary to enable the entire Israelite community to worship the Lord (see Numbers 3:5-13).

What can we learn from this?  Previously, God called one specific tribe (the Levites) from among His people to be His priests and servants.  But everything changed when Jesus Christ died on the cross and the Holy Spirit was given to every believer.  It means that now, every person who has trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour is a priest and servant of God.

So whether you are working in the marketplace, employed by a government or school, a full-time parent, working in the church, a student, retired, or unemployed, all of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour are priests and servants in God’s kingdom.

It’s not just pastors or people who are work in the church who are priests.  Every believer is a priest, minister and servant in God’s kingdom.  This concept is known as the priesthood of believers, or as some like to call it, “every member ministry”.  As Peter says to all Christians everywhere in 1 Peter 2:9, “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.”

What does it mean to be a priest?  To be a priest means to represent God in your world, to stand in the gap on behalf of people who don’t know the Lord.   It means to use your time and talents to serve Him and His church.

How much do you see yourself as a priest in God’s kingdom?  That is your identity!  How are you using your time and talents to serve God and serve His church?  That is your destiny.  You, Christian, are a modern-day Levite.  You are a priest in God’s kingdom.  You are a servant of God.  That is your calling, identity and destiny.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am a modern day Levite.  Thank You that by Your mercy and by the blood of Jesus, I am a priest in Your kingdom.  No matter what my current job is, my calling is to serve You with my talents and represent You in my home, my community and my world.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!