Our Assignments

 

"...you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry," 

Numbers 4:32

    I only have three chapters to go before I complete another read through the Bible.  My reading this morning included Numbers 4 (yes, I saved Leviticus and Numbers for last).  

    This chapter lists duties of the Levites when the Israelites break camp and the tent tabernacle is broken down to carry to their next location.  There are many parts to this tabernacle that must be carefully packed and carefully carried since it is holy to Almighty God.

    Every task was important -- even gathering the "sockets, pegs, and cords," (4:32).  Each man had a specific job and if he failed to complete his assignment, the tabernacle transfer would be incomplete -- and God would not be honored.

    Each piece in a jigsaw puzzle is important.  If one is missing, you have a gaping hole.

    We who are saved by grace are tabernacles/temples where the Holy Spirit dwells.  He has specific jobs for each of us.  If we fail to complete our assignment something or someone will suffer for our neglect -- and God will not be honored.  Another brother or sister may be required to finish our job and that person will then receive the reward and satisfaction of a job well-done.

    God created each of us with certain abilities and He is keenly aware of both our limitations and our capabilities.  God never asks us to do something that He does not enable us to do.

--Parable of Talents

    In the parable of talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the master gives each servant a task according to his abilities.  He gives five talents to one servant, two to another, and one to the last servant.  The master knew his servants abilities and did not ask for more than they were capable of handling.

    Two of the servants doubled the amount given to them to work with and they were each rewarded equally, because they performed to the full extent of their abilities.  "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required," Luke 12:48.

    The third servant, however, failed to grow his talent to honor his master.  Instead of growing his talent and using it to further his master's kingdom, he hid it and let it basically stagnate.  His master was displeased, to say the least.

--Our Talents

    Our Master did not give us talents to hide.  They are meant to grow, to spill out, to bless others as well as ourselves, and to bring glory and honor to our Master.

    "...you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry."  God has assigned each of His children "the items he or she must carry."  Are you carrying the items (talents/abilities/jobs) He has assigned you to carry?

    God wants us to grow -- to add to His kingdom, not subtract from it by dropping our assigned items.  

    If you're not sure what your "assignment" is, ask God to reveal it to you and then, work to grow it through the power of the Holy Spirit.  "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus," Philippians 4:19.

Miracle of Music

 

                            This picture represents powerful music from the Lord God Almighty

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think… Ephesians 2:20 NKJV

          I usually get out of bed each morning with a positive “this is a day the Lord has made, we will be glad and rejoice in it” attitude.

One morning, I got up and felt unmotivated and a bit anxious. I attributed these unusual feelings to a program I’d watched on TV the previous night, about a dysfunctional, pill-popping, alcoholic family who led a miserable life. They were the epitome of Thoreau’s statement, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

I knew I should not have watched such a dreadful show. I felt like I’d failed God by planting the wrong thoughts in my head.

To encourage my heart and draw closer to God, I told Alexa to play the song, Let it Be a Hallelujah. As I listened to that wonderful song of praise, I was uplifted and blessed.

Since I didn’t tell Alexa to stop the music, it continued.  That’s when God took over the playlist and gave me just what I needed to hear for the next eight songs.

Heaven Changes Everything was up next and my thoughts turned to three people I’ve been praying for who need salvation and freedom. When Chain Breaker started echoing my thoughts on freedom, I had to laugh. God has such a sense of humor!

I prayed for my friends as I imagined their chains being broken. Then God sends the song, Somebody Prayed, and I just shook my head in wonder and awe at my Father’s encouragement not to give up on prayer.

The song, Desperate, began playing and I began to weep, because yes, I was desperate for God – for myself and for my three friends. I felt so unworthy and needy for God’s help. So, I wasn’t surprised when God followed up with The Truth, a tender song about God’s love for me, especially when I’m feeling unworthy. I was reminded that I need to refuse the enemies’ lies and embrace God’s truth that He surrounds me with His grace and I am His child.

He followed that with Strong, to remind me that I am strong in the Lord even when I feel weak. Then God played Still Waters (from Psalm 23) and my heart melted into the sweet embrace of my precious Lord and I felt such peace.

About this time, I was wondering when I should tell Alexa to “stop.” Would God make it clear to me?  Why, of course, He was going to let me know – and He did. When Shout to the Lord began to play, I knew that was the grand finale of this amazing playlist. It was the perfect ending of praise to Almighty God since, “Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.”

This was nothing less than a musical miracle from my loving Father. He sent me a string of nine powerful songs that formed a progression of just what I needed to speak to my soul in that moment.

“Oh, Lord, please help me to walk in your power and on your path to fulfill your purpose for me. Help me to carry a heart of praise and purity, depending on your provision and not my own pitiful pursuits. I am weak, but you are strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong.”

 

Note:  I chose pictures of fireworks to represent the wonder of God's working through the music He chose for me in my Miracle of Music.  I took these fireworks pics at Epcot in Disney World when we were there in February.  They were so beautiful!