S) "20 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 'You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.'"
Numbers 18:20 (NASB)
O) I know the command itself is specific to Aaron and his offspring (see vv. Numbers 18:8-19 for more context), but the bigger theme to this is wrapped up by the last line of the verse above. As Christians, we are now priests ourselves (Isa 61:6, Isa 66:21, 1Pet 2:5, Rev 1:6), but this verse is also specific to the Promised Land. Despite those differences in specification, one thing still holds true from this verse. In our relationship with The LORD, His desire is to be our portion and our inheritence.
A) I often get sucked into a culture trap of thinking that I am the provider for my family. My wife hasn't been employed somewhere since our oldest child was born, and we're not looking to change that anytime soon. Since then, I have sometimes felt the burden as the sole income for the family. It is a constant struggle for me to refocus that I am no responsible for generating an inheritence for my family. I sometimes feel a pressure to save for, and then buy, a house. I know that there are myriad, logically, financial benefits to owning a home. Ultimately, though, buying a house out of fear (of man, of failure, or any other) is a terrible reaction to a lack of faith. There are many calamities that could arise, and no house could save me. There are struggles that could come, and owning my house (even outright, with no mortgage) would be useless. Ultimately, it is The LORD who provides. It is The LORD who saves. It is The LORD who secures.
P) Father, help me to refocus my mind and heart on You and You alone, LORD. I want You to truly be my heart's only desire. Give me the faith and trust needed to chase You and abandon all other desires. Take fear from me, God. Let me view You with a different perspective, to value You as my literal inheritence and my only portion. You are worthy of my single-minded devotion. You are worthy to be chased. You are worthy of my devotion and desire. Everyday, help me to pick up my cross and follow You, seeking first Your Kingdom and righteousness. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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