Numbers 1:3
You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.
Absolute pacifism is not God’s biblical mandate. Yet, some day, when Jesus rules the wills of all people, there will be no need for a military. In the meantime, pray for justice and righteousness to rule in all governments.
Pray for soldiers you are acquainted with. If you aren’t, ask around until you find some you can.
Exodus 40:15
“Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue for all generations to come.”
Unlike the judge, the priest/ pastor does not primarily serve the people. He/ she is nor a public servant; he/ she ultimately reports directly to God. If you think this is an easy yoke for a priest/ pastor, just ask them what this is like to have God being your final authority. Actually, God is the final authority for everyone…
Pray for pastors and priests to have the courage to follow God without compromise.
Jesus uses us to shine his light in the darkness of our world-
all people will be blessed and some will come to trust in the true light
Exodus 18:26
They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
Being a judge, like all other positions of authority, is a servant activity. The moment a public servant becomes a rockstar, serving goes out the window- as does success.
Pray for your mayor.
Exodus 14:12
Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
When God’s people are complaining in the wilderness they show a reoccurring theme in human history. Giving up freedom for the false security of the tyrant. It never works in the long run. We know how this always ends up without exception: choose the tyrant and choose death of everything God created you to be. We are created to be free and the only benevolent dictator that will ever work for all people is, of course, the only true one. We are free to serve the Master and, yes, that will work. Just have to wait to see it happen.
Pray for people who are not able to live free.
Exodus 35:21
21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.
God funds his mission through the obedience of his disciples. It is not by accident that those who stay close to God will be excited by giving. It is the way God designed it. Even Jesus is thrilled to get to the cross, the ultimate gift (Hebrews 12:2)
Pray for God to stir you to increase your generosity toward his mission.
Genesis 32:10
10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups.
When Jacob prays to God, he makes sure that though he is serving God, God knows that Jacob knows that it is God who blesses his servants. Anything we do for the glory of God is more than rewarded by the awesome life the God-led get to live. In a real sense, service is never really a sacrifice.
Thank God for being so good to you today.
Genesis 29:20
20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
God’s promise is behind the scenes of the Jacob and Rachel love story. Jacob doesn’t realize God’s hand here. Sometimes we do things that please us and we discover later it is all part of God’s influence in the first place. Who knew?
In your decision-making, play close attention to what God might be saying.
Genesis 24:14
…let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.
When you are serving God, your connections with him are strong. You can expect God to be involved in your life in ways that might not be completely clear at the moment. So, if you are single and you would like to be married someday, start making progress in serving. Who knows?
Pray for God to be present in all your relationships.
Genesis 18:3
3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.”
When we serve God, we need him to fuel our service. In fact, we can’t serve without him. Not in the ways he intends. God wants us to enjoy being a blessing for others and so he favors us as we reach out.
As you serve today, imagine Jesus alongside.
