Corona Devo 1061

I just loved the verses that I read in the Old Testament today!  They are seemingly so out-dated and antiquated from anything we would be a part of today...speaking of consecrating ourselves...and people being moved to bring their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the Lord...

And then some people were moved to go above and beyond giving the regular offerings, and all whose hearts were willing gave more!  (I want to feel as intensely about my gratitude to God today!)

Yes!

I love it!

I want that to happen at our churches this Sunday, and in our Bible studies, and in our school/work/church ministries, don't you?!  It's so exciting!  (Or...wait...does it make you nervous?  Does this kind of impromptu/spirit-led activity in the church seem too-much-too-fast?  Stay tuned if so...).

~~~

How did all of this exciting stuff happen at church (the Temple of the Lord)? 

Well, King Hezekiah had come into power and he cleaned house.  He cleaned God's House...the Temple.  He ordered his people to restore it to order and beauty and (most of all)...holiness.  

They did.  

But at the same time, there was other necessary restoration occurring---within the hearts of God's people.  And when the Temple was "ready"...so were they!

How are our hearts today?  Does any "cleaning" need to be done?  Do we need to restore order, beauty and (most of all) holiness to our hearts in reference to the Lord?  And how about our "churches"?  Any (holy) restoration needed?

These (restored) people came to church and they gave at church and they worshiped at church through their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings.  Then, some of them went even further, because God-moving-in-their-hearts made them.  And all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too (2 Chronicles 29:31).  That was on top of all that they had already given, and a burnt offering was a big (costly) deal back then.

But after God's church was restored, and the people felt themselves be restored...what other response is there but to glorify God and give what we can (and then some!) to praise and worship Him?

So they did!

And out-of-their-acknowledgement of Who God is, they gave so many sacrifices, offerings and burnt offerings that there were too few priests to prepare all the burnt offerings (2 Chronicles 29:34).  

Can you imagine?  God's people were into worshiping Him and giving (so much) to Him in the Temple, that the priests had more than they could handle.

So...they sent the people home and told them to come back after they could hire and train more priests.

WRONG!

That is not what they did, thank goodness.  Well, thank the Lord.  

The last thing we want to do when people are making strides in connecting with the Lord, or are moved-by-the-Spirit is to halt them for logistical reasons.

Please, don't let us get in God's way today by getting caught up in the rules, red tape, or order-of-hierarchy of the "church", or anything else.  Go where the Spirit leads you today!

What really happened (in the Bible) was that the verses go on to tell of an impromptu shortage of priests (professional church people) because the people were so touched, that their (huge!) offerings overwhelmed and outnumbered the priests who were trained to receive these gifts.  (Wow!)  

And so, Levites (Believers, but not as highly-educated and trained as the "official" priests) stepped in and stepped up...(and were-allowed-to-step in), in order to accommodate the people and the thanksgiving offerings that they gave so freely while they were filled up with God!

So their relatives the Levites helped them until the work was finished and more priests had been purified, for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been. (35) There was an abundance of burnt offerings, along with the usual liquid offerings, and a great deal of fat from the many peace offerings.  ~2 Chronicles 29:34-35

There was an abundance...and "the church" broke protocol in handling the sacrifices, in order to serve God's people while they were in a "spiritual-growth-spurt", if you will.

And the Levites didn't take their (short-term) roles seriously and it was a mistake to allow anyone but official church personnel to assist with "the people" and their spiritual growth.

WRONG!

...for the Levites had been more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests had been.  ~2 Chronicles 29:34

I had to chew on this mention for a while, but God mentioned it for a reason.  The Levites who "stepped in" took serving the Lord in this way very seriously!  So serious that they were more conscientious about purifying themselves than the priests.  

Whoa!  I am not sure if that is a dis to the priests or just a major 'attaboy' to the Levites, but either way...the Levites showed up, and they represented the holiness of their position wonderfully.

And God allowed lay-people to serve, and the people/their faith/the Temple/and their momentum flourished!  

So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service. (36) And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly.  ~2 Chronicles 29:35-36

Yes!

I love it!

I want that to happen at our churches this Sunday, and in our Bible studies, and in our school/work/church ministries, don't you?!  It's so exciting!  

(Or...wait...does it make you nervous?  Does this kind of impromptu/spirit-led activity in the church seem too-much-too-fast?).

Please, don't let us get in God's way today by getting caught up in the rules, red tape, or order-of-things.  Go where the Spirit leads you today!

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com