Year 4, Day 119: Numbers 4

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: D3, D4, Discipleship Square

• D3 is the moment in life where a person is consciously competent about what they are able to do as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  They are maturing, able to do ministry and disciple others, but it is still a conscious effort.  This is the time when a disciple’s skills are often honed deeply.
• D4 is the moment in life where a person is unconsciously competent about what they can do as a disciple of Christ.  They are mature.  Often they disciple others and perform ministry without having to think about it.  They do it simply out of their spiritual maturity and their closeness with God.

Looking at Numbers 4 allows us to see the importance for maturity.  Notice that in all other censuses that the age of counting is 20 and older.  But when the Levites are counted, the required age is 30.  When it comes to dealing with the work of God and moving His earthly dwelling place, God wants mature people to do the task.  He wants people who are spiritually mature enough to know their place, execute what needs to be done, not do anything that shouldn’t be done, and lead with maturity.  God wants people who are mature enough to be willing to listen to His orders and then act upon them appropriately.

What God wants are people who are competent.  He doesn’t mind people growing into competency.  But there are certain tasks in the faith that are so important that the competent should do them.

We can see this in the New Testament as well.  Before Jesus leaves His disciples, He leads them into maturity.  Before Paul goes out into mission, Barnabas mentors him into maturity.  Paul likewise mentors Timothy, Luke, Titus, and a host of other characters.  We are to be a people who look forward to developing God’s servants into mature followers who are capable of listening and then doing what God asks of them.

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