Protecting the community of God - Reflecții scripturale de dimineață

Being in ministry isn’t always easy. Be it as a pastor, an elder, deacon, missionary, a teacher, a mentor, whatever - ministry is hard at times. So why do it? A passion for the lost. A desire to help others grow. A call from God. The list can be long, and whatever the underlined reason, the fact is those in ministry are called to serve God according to what He has instructed in His Word with the Holy Spirit illuminating it throughout their journey.

When the nation of Israel left Egypt, God began to establish His system for the nation. “But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the Lord’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.” (Numbers 1:53)

The Levites definitely had been called by God to be the ministers for the people. And one role of theirs was to protect the community…to stand guard.

The parallels to ministry today are there as well. We are called by God, and then confirmed by His people. And part of our role as leaders is to protect His people. In the New Testament, church leaders are referred to as shepherds. Why? Not because they are smelly, but because they are to lead and _protect_ the sheep, which is the community of God.

“So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.” (Numbers 1:54)

May we live lives as the LORD God has commanded. May we shepherd the community of AO well, helping to protect them. Protecting them in the sense that we help train then to study the Word of God on their own. Protecting them in helping them see that living a life “just as the LORD had commanded” is the only way to live. Protecting them by teaching them proper doctrine and theology. Protecting them by instructing and training them to do the ministry that God has called the church to do. Protecting them by living an example for them to follow. Protecting them by being good shepherds of His sheep.

It is a call that God has placed in my life that I love. I hope the same is for you. Let’s protect the community of God today by living the way God wants us to live - even in the little things like where we put our tents.