Enjoying our calling

⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? ¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. Numbers 16: 8 – 10

Numbers 16 tells the awful story of one of the greatest rebellions against Moses and the Lord as the children of Israel journeyed through the desert. Korah and his family joined forces with some men from the tribe of Reuben and 250 leaders to assert that all the Israelites were holy and could offer incense to God just as Aaron and his family did.  The tragic thing is that Korah’s family had one of the most privileged positions because as Kohathites they had the honour of moving and caring for all the holy things of the tabernacle including the ark of the covenant. No one else was permitted to do this – it was an honour but for Korah and his family it was not enough. They wanted to be priests as well. This tragic rebellion ended in Korah and the Reubenites and their families all being swallowed up by the earth and the 250 who wanted to offer incense as priests were all consumed by fire.

As Christians today we are all priests unto Almighty God which is a wonderful privilege and by the precious blood of Jesus, we can offer our bodies as living sacrifices and offer praise and worship to our Lord and Saviour. We have no need of intermediaries but can draw near to God in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22). It is a wonderful thing to be able to do.

However, we too can wish for ministry, position, influence that is not for us. Each one of us has a unique call on our lives and we must realise the honour it is to serve God in this way. My main calling is to be a mother both in the natural and spiritual way – hence my blog name. However it took years for me to realise the privilege of this especially when our children were young and opportunities outside the home were few. I resented being stuck at home and wanted so much more.

Some people implied that they were far too intelligent and motivated to be content to stay at home with the children as I was doing and therefore by inference I was neither intelligent nor motivated. There was also a season when our church was having one well known speaker after another and I always seemed to be stuck at home with the children. I resented this as well but God told me quite firmly that if I ever needed to be at a meeting I would have child care and if I did not have any child care then I would not miss out on anything. God’s word is true and many years later, I can confirm that God has been utterly faithful in his promise. I came to realise how important being a mother is and what a high calling I had been given to have the honour of raising children. It laid a foundation in my life that is bearing much fruit to this day.

Whatever God has called you to do, especially if it is not very glamorous or prominent, do it with your best heart and attitude. No one knows what the future holds but God is laying down a foundation in your life on which he will build something that only he can do. In years to come you will look back and see how God used those times of service for his glory. Whatever God has called us to is an honour because we are serving him so let’s serve faithfully.