MORNING BY MORNING
Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 8-9
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
This is the ancient Hippodrome at Jerash, where tourists can enjoy re-enactments of chariot races and play fighting. Recent excavations show that Jerash was already inhabited during the Bronze Age (3200 BC – 1200 BC). After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Jerash and the lands surrounding it were annexed by the Roman province of Syria and joined the Decapolis cities. Jesus ministered here. These were non-Jewish cities. He cares for us all!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 9:27-28
And they lodged all around the house of God because they had the responsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning. Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count.
Names, names and more names are found in our readings. Perhaps this is tedious for some, but not for God. Every person is of infinite and eternal importance to Him, including each of us! The Chronicles are not written with a specific timeline in mind; rather it moves back and forth with the stories of various families. The key verse is not about the Temple of Solomon but about its successor built under the leadership of Ezra. This was the Temple, which was extensively renovated and enlarged by King Herod, in which Jesus would have worshipped. Notice the care given to the management and operation of the Temple.
Consider our responsibility to the sanctuary in which we worship. This is not the earthly building built for the purpose of meeting together as believers to worship corporately, to learn the Word of God, and to have fellowship one with another, but rather the Tabernacle “not made with hands.” The earthly building was a copy of that which exists in Heaven. It is to the heavenly building, the Church in the heavenly place, in which each one of us have the responsibility to serve every day. “Morning by morning” with consistency is so very important. Let us take the time, if possible, to read from Hebrews 9:1-28. Let us meditate on our place of service.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, even as those who served You in Your earthly building called the Temple, so I desire to take responsibility in serving in Your eternal building, the Church, which You, Jesus, said You would build. Please show me my specific responsibility, and I pray for grace to faithfully do my job. In the Name of the One who carries out His responsibility with total faithfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Everyone reading this blog has a job to do, as did those who lived around the Temple in Jerusalem. I have some responsibilities currently at the Crossroads Centre here in Burlington. Every morning my job is to make sure you who read this blog actually receive it. Ron and Ann are a big blessing, making sure it gets done right. I’m determined to give top priority to my wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. My over-arching job is to serve in that Tabernacle “not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). I’m doing this now as I write this blog. Faithfulness in prayer, in meditating on God’s Word, in bringing others and their needs before God daily is my first job every morning.
Yours for faithfully carrying out our responsibility to God and to people,
David
P.S. In case you haven’t watched 100 Huntley Street lately, here’s the website where you can watch online…www.100huntley.com.
Dubbed the “Pompeii of the East,” ancient Jerash is a Greco-Roman city located 80 miles north of Amman Jordan. The impressive, beautifully preserved ruins of Jerash include places of worship and other buildings from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Muslim periods. In this photo you can see the full length of the Hippodrome. The ruins of earthly buildings can be contrasted with the eternal importance of the true Temple “not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Pastor David carried out his responsibility well and may he enjoy his eternal reward in heaven. Amen. Beautiful day in the Maritimes today. Blessings saints!
Those were my thoughts as well Ger, Pastor David was such an example to me and his bog still is!
Amen,Anne.
Amen,Ger.David’s prayer,as so often is the case,also my prayer in full,that I might serve Him as He sees fit (His will) which is the right we give Him when we surrender to Him.Early on,when I had self doubt,Rev.John Fortier used to encourage me with this scripture: ” Philippians 1:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
When we surrender to Him then He,the Holy Spirit,begins to cleanse us gently from within until we meet Him face to face.We may not even know this is taking place but it is.I think this should be spelled out to new believers to encourage them lest they fall away.God bless
Surrender
I lay them down in front of you,
For Jesus,that is what I must do
When my burdens become too much,
I surrender them to your gentle touch.
Lord,I give all my troubles to you,
They are yours when my day is through,
Please make them smaller for me
So I am unencumbered and free.
Lord you found me and gave me hope
With new strength that I might cope,
And now I have surrendered to you,
Body and soul to be made anew.
You lifted me up so I could see,
That you were always beside me,
Now I feel grief for the lost years,
But I shall not cry any wasted tears.
So I will lay them at Your holy feet,
For You have made me more complete,
I am yours through the fires of Hell,
With love that Satan’s hordes can’t quell.
G W(Bill) Marshall/2012
Written,over a year after my ‘surrender’,on my knees,
in my living room.
For Irene re yesterday’s comment;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8J26PZrNrc
Thank you William!
Lord God, You are worthy of all praise, now and forever! Thank You for all the mighty works You have done in creation and in & through your people. Please strengthen all your people today, and be glorified and magnified in & through each one. Show us the specific work You have prepared for each of us, and help us to do it well. Trusting in your promise that if You be lifted up, You will draw all men to You. In Jesus’s great name, amen
Thought this might make you all smile. Gavin is learning to talk again. He hates carrots , but My daughter sent me a video of her trying to help him say I want coffee, he started smiling and said “I want carrots”. and kept smiling. This was balm for my soul, everyday he is improving, praise God. Thank you all again for your prayers.
Beautiful poem Bill thanks for sharing.
I also agree with Ger and Ann, David is still helping us through this blog. Thanks Rob for the lovely prayer. Blessings to all Eleanor M.
Hi Eleanor
not only does this make me smile but it brings tears to my eyes! Praise and thank the Lord for healing Gavin; this blog is so very special to me and to many others; I praise and thank the Lord for being able to hear from many and read the blogs and pray for each and rejoice always for all that the Lord has done and will continue to do our all of our lives!
please pray the Lord will send the right person to be the Pastor at my church, even though I don’t go anymore, I still pray all will go well.
The Lord knows everything that is happening on earth, He sees all,hears all,knows, He knows 2 gals that need complete healing; one is total healing for Becky and total healing for Sandi. Again,Thank and Praise the Lord for this healing amen amen amen
Wow! Praise God! Thank you, Lord for hearing our prayers for Gavin. Perhaps Gavin will now eat carrots. Lol.
Blessings to all Saints.
Was blessed to hear of Gauvin talking and smiling. Brought tears to my eyes and made me smile about carrots. Like your poem Bill and prayer Rob. Thinking of you Beverlee and miss you. God bless you all.
Amen Ger!