April 11, 2018
Joshua 13:33
But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them. 
New International Version (NIV)
                 When I became a pastor thirty-seven years ago, many small churches provided parsonages for their pastors to live in.  Often the houses were right on the church property.  Graciously one church built a parsonage for us to live in.  We didn’t own a home, but the church provided a place for us to live.  One church filled up my back seat with food every Sunday.  To this day people give us unexpected gifts.  We are grateful.

                In Joshua’s day, the whole tribe of priests never owned their own land.  Remember Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh became tribes and the twelfth son, Levi and his family became a tribe of priests.  Moses and Aaron were in that tribe.  When Joshua reached the promised land and apportioned it to the people, the tribe of Levi received no inheritance of land.  They received food through the offerings of the people (13:14).  Best of all the Lord, himself was their portion.

                What inheritance do we anticipate?  I have always said, “You never see a hearse with a u-haul behind it.”  Recently a friend saw one and sent me a picture of a hearse with a u-haul attached.   Okay, so there is one who tries but it won’t work.  Possessions do not go with us into heaven.  No wonder the Psalmist says, “The Lord is my portion.  Therefore I will wait for him.”  Remember the beautiful song, “His eye is on the sparrow . . .”?  One line in the song says, “Jesus is my portion . . .”  In the end, fellow believer, Jesus will be all that we have and of course he will be all that we need.  He already is!
Pray with me:
Father, give us rest from the restlessness which leads to endless acquisition.  Remind us that no possession in this world can finally fill the emptiness in our souls.  Be our portion today and always.  Be our treasure.  Your love is better than life.  Because you are ours we lack no good thing.  You are all that we need.  Be all that we want, we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.  With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
 
Joyfully, 
 
Duane 
About Duane Archives
Subscribe to our email list.