Celebrating, Thanking, and Praising Our Lord God

Today’s Word of Encouragement from Wayne:

"When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God"

1 Chronicles 16: 2&4

In this account from the book of Chronicles, concerning bringing the ark of God into the city of David, we see in even further detail how David was conducting himself more as a priest unto God than a king upon this day. David was offering sacrifices with the priests. David spoke a blessing over the people "in the name of the Lord" as a priest. And look at this; David even appointed some of the Levites to be "ministers before the ark of the Lord." David made sure that there would be people ministering to the Lord in His presence always, "to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God."

We need this exact same understanding and level of honor towards our Lord in the body of Christ this day. God is actually real and Jesus Christ "has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father" (Revelation 1:6), so ministering to the Lord should be one of the greatest blessings that all true Christians know of, flock to, and participate in. But unfortunately this is not the case. The priesthood has been covered over and forsaken even as Christ Himself has been left behind by people who have other interests instead. As priests unto God, let us, of our own free will, as redeemed in New Covenant blood Christians, occupy this same space and place of honor. Let us take up the mantle, our appointment, "as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God," for He is worthy.

Our God deserves to be surrounded by true children who truly know and love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Let us stand in the gap, minister as priests in His presence, and pray that the body of Christ will throw off the shackles of this world, repent, and become in practice, in spirit and in truth "A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s Own possession" (1 Peter 2:9). David loved ministering to the Lord and so, when he appointed Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, he was blessing them by giving them something that had become a first love of his own life. May ministering to the Lord become, and remain, a first love practice for your own life, and for all true Christians. Hallelujah!