The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 8:23-26, “Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
24 ‘This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting.
25 ‘But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more.
26 ‘They may, however, assist their brothers in the tent of meeting, to keep an obligation, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites concerning their obligations.’”

“What are you going to be when you grow up?” How often I heard that when I was a child! In those days, the insurance man came to collect for the our family’s life insurance. That man used to call me “little preacher.” He insisted that that was what I was going to be. I was a young child and had no idea why he said that; but he was right. About the age of 17, the LORD called me into His ministry.

Doubtlessly, the sons of Levi had no idea the LORD was going to use them in His ministry. Such was not their choice; the LORD was in charge. He purified them and assigned them to “perform service in the work of the tent of meeting.” The LORD also stipulated that the Levites were to commence work at the age of 25 and retire at the age of 50. When we read of how strenuous their work was, we can understand why they were limited to 25 years of service.

Even today, those who minister to us have a strenuous work. It may look easy to some, but it is not easy. Prayer itself is strenuous; so is study. We enter our church buildings, expecting the pastor to have a helpful message from the Scriptures. It may not be long, but it has taken hours of s prayerful study in the Scriptures to formulate what the LORD wants for His people.

Still, the pastor’s task is far more than preparing a weekly messages for his congregation. We have the responsibility to support the pastor with our prayers. We will not always know the situations that occupy his time and energy, yet it will always be our responsibility to uphold him in prayer. As it was with the Levites, so it is with ministers today. Look for the good in the pastor you have been given, and thank the LORD for His ministry through him. He may some day call your son or grandson to be a pastor.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom