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Devotionals
Devotional
for the Week 2 July 2007
Minister
to the Lord
Scripture Text: Ezekiel
44: 15 - 16
Introduction
The text describes the vision given to prophet Ezekiel of God’s
glory returning to the new temple in Jerusalem. Would this be
a picture of revival in our modern context and what might it
be saying to us today?
A.
Ministry to People vs. Ministry to God
There is a striking difference highlighted between the rest
of the Levites and the priests who were the descendants of Zadok”
(vv 15 – 16). The former strayed away from God and went
after the pagan idols whereas the priests of Zadok were faithful
and obedient to God. As a result of their sin, God did not want
the rest of the Levites to serve Him nor to deal with the most
holy things. They were only to minister to the people, whereas
the priests of Zadok were entrusted with the most holy things
and invited to come before His presence and minister to Him.
1.
Ministry to the Lord
What does ministering to the Lord or ministering before the
Lord mean? Ministering to the Lord means
a life wholeheartedly devoted to God in worship, and following
from that, of God-sanctioned service to His people.
There is a two-step process to this. The first is to love the
Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30)
and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).
The first Great Commandment must always come before the second
Great Commandment
2.
God, not People, is our focus
There is a distinct difference between ministry to the people
and ministry to the Lord. To minister to people is to hear what
the people want and say. To minister to
God is to hear what God wants and says. Hence what
God wants and says should be our main focus.
B. Priesthood for Individuals
What does Ezekiel 44’s talk of Levites and priest have
to do with you as an individual?
1.
Priesthood is for all Believers
Crucially, 1 Peter 2:9 refers to Christians as a royal priesthood
and a holy nation. All of
us are priests. As such, like the Levites
or the priests of Zadok, we are either for God or against
God.
2.
One Thing People
God wants us to know if we are OTP or “One Thing People”
– people who are wholeheartedly devoted to Christ as
the One Thing of our lives. Scripture is filled with OTPs
– a few examples are King David, Mary and Apostle Paul.
Are our lives characterized by this wholehearted devotion
to God in worship, and service to His people?
C.
Priesthood in the Church
What does Ezekiel have to say to Bedok Methodist Church (BMC)
as a church? We find that there are many amazing events at BMC
like the Year of Missions where several hundred BMC members
have already been on a mission with God. These are exciting
time for a busy church! But what does Ezekiel 44’s warning
about Levites who are busy with service in the Lord’s
temple and are prevented from entering the Lord’s presence
and ministering to Him, have to say to us?
1.
Forgotten our 1st Love
In Revelation 2:2-5, the Lord Jesus has important words for
the church at Ephesus, one of the seven churches in Asia.
The church had done many good deeds and also persevered in
times when the going was tough. Yet there was one thing the
Lord had against them – they had forgotten their first
love. Like Martha, they have been so busy with many things,
but the one thing that was most needed has evidently eluded
them: their relationship with the Lord Jesus. In other words,
the Ephesian church has done remarkably well to fulfill the
second Great Commandment – loving their neighbours as
themselves – but had fallen short of the first Great
Commandment – to love the Lord with all their heart,
soul, mind and strength. So while they did a fantastic job
ministering to the people, they had forgotten about ministering
to the Lord.
2.
The Not-so-Hidden Costs
However, there is a cost involved for those who choose to
be One Thing People. Mary was criticized for focusing on the
One Thing that mattered most to her - her Lord Jesus. She
was criticized by Martha for failing to assist her (Luke 10:38
– 42). She was criticized again on her apparent “wastage”
of her expensive perfume when she anointed Jesus (John 12:
1-7). Yet One Thing People gladly bear the costs involved
in unrestrained extravagant worship of and ministry to the
Lord (cf. 2 Samuel 24:24)..
D.
Conclusion and Invitation
| Dear
Sisters and Brothers in Christ, |
| • |
Will
you be a minister to the people, or a minister to the Lord? |
| • |
Are
you a One Thing Person, wholeheartedly devoted to Christ
and His purpose, promises and ways, or are you a prisoner
of many things? |
| • |
Will
you be incessantly caught up in all other business or will
we seek to be invited into His sanctuary, come near His
most holy things, and minister before Him? |
The Choice is yours.
Prayer
Response
Dear Jesus, I thank You for your love. I pray that I learn to
be a One Thing Person, sitting at Your feet and building up
a relationship with You. Help me to prioritize what is important
to You and not let my busyness turn me away from You. Help me
to be still before You and listen to Your heartbeat and minister
to You. Amen
Devotional
based on message by Dr Tan See Seng
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