Numbers 18:7 (KJV)
Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
As I begin this writing, I want to state my position that the priesthood of our day is the believer and NOT those in the full time ministry. By viewing the Levitical priesthood as a counterpart to modern ministry, Catholics and others have distorted God’s design and led many into spiritual damage.
That said, I note some things about the priestly office and draw some loose parallels to pastoral ministry.
First, ministry is a gift from God. It’s not for everyone. It is a calling, not merely a choice. It’s a good choice, and I think many in ministry today are there by choice rather than calling. But when God has “gifted” the ministry to you, it changes you in ways others can’t comprehend.
Second, it is a gift of service. It is not a gift of leadership. “Leading by serving” and “serving by leading” are man-made constructs. Christ leads the church—not the pastor.
Third, it is a burden. The priests bore the weight of the sanctuary. I’ve been in the ministry long enough to know there are plenty of sinful things that go on among the people of God. A pastor must not allow himself to become frustrated or angry at those people but patiently bear it and, “line upon line,” teach them, and direct them away from sin.
Numbers 18:1 (KJV)
And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
Finally, those God calls into ministry have a unique relationship to Him. He is their portion.
I often grieve for those who don’t understand that. Many claim to be Christians, but they don’t seem to have a genuine relationship with God.
Numbers 18:20 (KJV)
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
When He becomes your portion, He is completely sufficient.
#GiftOfMinistry #CalledNotChosen #ChristLeadsTheChurch #BurdenAndBlessing #TheLordIsMyPortion
The Gift and Burden of Ministry: God’s Portion for His Servants
👉 Ministry is not a career—it’s a gift from God, a burden to bear, and a relationship that makes Him our portion. ✝️
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