Daily Reading: Numbers 3
Scripture Focus: Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. (Numbers 3.4)
Devotional Thought: I recently read an article about how to "make your pastor's day on clergy appreciation day." I had to chuckle when one of the things that would make your pastor happy was to make sure your children are in church - and to do your part in having children to bring to church! I thought that is a really great idea - for young people, of course!
In all truth, having children is a blessing from God. But, it is also a blessing to the kingdom of God. Children populate the kingdom and grow to do the work of the kingdom. Without children the future of any particular church is in jeopardy!
When Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's children, offered unauthorized fire before the Lord (worshiped in a self-serving way) they died. And sadly, "they had no children." There was no one in their families to carry on the work of the Lord. God did have others at the ready, but Nadab and Abihu's posterity and legacy died out.
Nadab and Abihu had no children to carry on their work because of their sinfulness and selfishness. Those same maladies can affect a church today, robbing it of its posterity and legacy. We in today's generation should take a hard look at our practices and attitudes. We need to ask ourselves if we are contributing to or taking from the future of the kingdom.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of children. Help your Church to so live and love that we would have many spiritual children to carry on the work of Christ in the generations to come. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 116:15-19)
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