Sat.’s Devo - Finishing Well 7–8-23

Read: 1 Chronicles 5-:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21 The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were all the skilled warriors. In today’s church they would be the spiritual warriors who interceded and did battle in the Spirit. They were the barrier to the Promised Land and kept the evil people from entering the land. They won because they cried out to the Lord. He answered them because they trusted in Him. But as time when on and new generations were born, they strayed from trusting the Lord and began to trust the gods of other nations that God had defeated. They were eventually taken prisoners to Halah, Habor, Tara, and the Gozan River by the Assyrians. *** Next we are given the sons of the tribe of Levi, the priests. Levi had three sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Kohath had a son named Amran who became the father of Moses and Aaron. Their descendants became the high priest’s in the Temple Solomon built. They were eventually sent to Babylon as captives. *** David assigned the sons of Levi to lead the music. Heman from Kohath was the head musician who was a descendant of Samuel. His first assistant was from the clan of Gershon and his second assistant was from the clan of Merari. *** Only the sons of Aaron were priests who presented the offerings on the brazen altar and the altar of incense. They served in the Holy Place. and made atonement for Israel. *** The Levites were not given a specific territory but were scattered throughout the tribes and given cities. They ran the cities of refuge. *** In Acts, Paul was asked to defend himself in front of Agrippa. He knew that King Agrippa knew the Jewish law so he began by giving him his credentials and explaining that he understood the fulfillment of all Moses had taught. He was a witness to the hope they had seen but not experianced. Paul told Agrippa how he had once hated and persecuted the followers of Jesus until he saw the light and was arrested by Jesus himself on the road to Damascus. Jesus called him to be his witness to his own people, the Jews and also to the Gentiles. He was called to open the eyes of the Gentiles so that they could turn from darkness to light and put their faith in him. *** Festus cried out that Paul was insane but Paul defended his sanity and the truth of his words. He turned to Agrippa knowing Agrippa understood. He asked Agrippa if he believed what the prophets spoke, knowing that he did. Agrippa was put on the spot so he asked Paul if he thought he could make him become a Christian that easily. *** Paul replied that he hoped they would become a Christian. Agrippa and his officers stood and walked out. They agreed that Paul hadn’t done anything worthy of death but he had appealed to Caesar so they had to let him go. *** Paul could have been set free if he had said the right thing and denied his calling, but Paul wasn’t interested in earthly freedom. He was already free in his heart. Chains were nothing but earthly trappings. He was set on finishing his race well. *** Lord, may fulfilling our destiny be our only reason for living. May we press on to the end with joy and boldness.