Service to God Must Continue

Note from today’s Bible reading: Numbers 1-3

After God gave His law to the people of Israel, He had another task for Moses to complete – he was to “take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel” (Numbers 1:2). However, this census was not intended to count everyone; rather, it was to number “every male…from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war” (Numbers 1:2-3).

Yet as they counted the men who were capable of going to war, certain ones from this class were excluded from the census – the men from the tribe of Levi (Numbers 1:47). Why did God not want them counted among the rest who could fight in the army of Israel? He had another task for them. They were appointed “over the tabernacle…and they shall take care of it” (Numbers 1:50).

There would be times when the men from the rest of the tribes would be called upon to go to battle. Yet even on those occasions, the work of the tabernacle in which offerings would be made to God was to continue.

Though we live under a different law today, there is a principle that we need to consider. Regardless of what may be happening around us or what pressing concerns we may face, it is still necessary to offer the Lord the worship and service that He deserves.

So remember that the service of God must continue. Christians today make up a “holy priesthood [who] offer up spiritual sacrifices” to God (1 Peter 2:5). Though the world may distract us with other “important” matters, we must not neglect our responsibilities to the Lord.