Who's Making the Flat Cakes?

While reading through the book of First Chronicles, I came across the following section that described the responsibilities of some of the Levites:

Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flat cakes.

- 1 Chronicles 9:28-31

One of those mind-blowing passages, right? Actually, if you're like me, you were probably wondering, "Who cares? What's the big deal? Why all the boring details?"

Yet the other side of my brain says, "Wait. The Bible assures us that 'all Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable ..." (2 Tim. 3:16). So what benefit might the above passage bring us? The ESV (English Standard Version) study note provides some wonderful insight along these lines:

The responsibilities of vv. 28-31 may strike the modern reader as obscure and dull. Perhaps they seemed so to the ancient reader as well. Nevertheless, the whole work of the sanctuary depended on the faithfulness of these men; and all of God's people may take comfort from this reminder that God both notices and remembers those who faithfully perform routine tasks in service to him. The mention of these servants was probably a source of pride to their later descendants.

Isn't that great? I love that! What an encouragement! Church ministry can involve any number of seemingly mundane tasks, such as changing diapers, trimming bushes, raking leaves, running the sound system, passing out bulletins, serving snacks to kids, collecting the offering, and numerous other acts of service. And God takes note of each one! He faithfully rewards every person who serves others in His name.

While others may overlook, fail to acknowledge or appreciate our acts of Christian service (and we all do, because no one is perfect), we can carry on our work with joy because God knows who's making the flat cakes!

No wonder Scripture tells us, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ" (Col. 3:23-24). Amen!

It's a Sink, Not a Urinal

Okay, I admit, it's kind of an odd name for a blog article. But stick with me for a moment, because there really is a "moral to the story."

Every Tuesday I go to a local engineering company where I serve as the corporate chaplain. Rarely do I need to use the restroom while I'm there, but every now and then nature calls. Such was the case today. So I went into the men's restroom and made the same mistake I almost always do. I keep thinking that the large metal trough to my left is some kind of "community urinal" when in fact it is the sink. The first time I went into this bathroom, I approached this trough and was about to micturate (yep, that's the formal term), when I saw a man stick his hands in it, push some kind of petal with his feet, and out came water through holes that I hadn't seen. Whew. That would have been really bad if he had walked in just a few seconds later.

I have to remind myself nearly every time I go into that restroom that the trough to my left is a sink, not a urinal!

What's the point to my telling you all this? Well, I think there's a parallel to the sink and the sanctuary. Both are intended to be resources for cleanliness. A key reason we gather with the saints for worship is to spur one another on to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25). We go to build up the body of Christ, so that we grow up to maturity in Him (Eph. 4:12-16). We come to pray, confess our faults to one another, hear the preached Word, and press on in our walk with Christ.

Yet if we're not careful, we can treat the Lord's house like a urinal. Instead of cleansing ourselves, we can contaminate others with ungodly attitudes and words. Just as urine and other waste products are undesirable to the body and irritating to the skin and eyes, so are thoughtless words and carnal attitudes to the body of Christ. When we criticize, complain, and gossip, we are "urinating in the sink," so to speak.

Maybe this is somewhat of a crude illustration, but I couldn't let it pass (pun intended). Please take it to heart. When you come to church, treat it like a sink, not a urinal.

Sweet Suffering

Cancer. Just the sound of the word fills our hearts with fear and dread. It's a terrifying diagnosis. For many of us, this disease threatens to rob us of our health, our energy, our vitality, and our sense of well-being. It endangers our ability to provide for ourselves and take care of our families. It may steal our identity, our sense of purpose and significance. It can ruin our best-laid plans, destroy our hopes and dreams. It has taken friends and loved ones from us far too soon.

Cancer is a powerful enemy. But it's not all-powerful. . . .

This is the opening quote of a gospel tract entitled What Cancer Can't Do. I keep a supply of them on hand because I regularly come across people who are suffering from cancer or know somebody who is. Of course the point of the tract is: God is the one who is more powerful than cancer, and He is the one "who comforts us in all our affliction" (2 Cor. 1:4).

Just this morning I was at a local gym working out, when I ran into an older brother in the Lord. He doesn't go to our church, but is a member at another evangelical church closer to Boston. I met this guy some time ago, and as we talked, he informed me that his wife has cancer. I promised to pray for her, and even paid a visit to their house on one occasion.

This morning I asked him how she was doing, and he said she's finishing up chemotherapy treatment that has been going on for about a year. After the first cycle of treatments, the doctors found that the tumor had not shrunk but had actually grown. Needless to say, this news was very disheartening to this couple who have been married for nearly half a century.

Yet as this brother updated me on this difficult situation, he said, "But we have our devotions each morning out in the sunroom. That's been our sweetest time of the day as we read our Bible and pray together. Some time ago my wife told me that she's changed the nature of her prayer. At first she was praying, 'Lord, take this cancer away.' Now we're praying, 'Lord, do whatever You want. We give this cancer to You.'"

He said this with a lump in his throat and tears in his eyes. This brother and his dear wife have found a sweetness in their suffering.

This experience is not unique to them, but is the "mournful joy" of every believer in Christ. The apostle Paul said it perfectly:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.... So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

- 2 Cor. 4:8-9, 16-18

Shortly after returning from the gym, I found out that another Christian brother had just died of heart disease. He was in the prime of his life and leaves behind his dear wife and two young boys. Thankfully, his wife knows Christ, as do other members in his family. For them, there is a sweetness in their suffering.

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, wrote, "In times of affliction we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God."

Thank you, Father, that nothing can separate us from your love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and that we are more than conquerors through him (Rom. 8:37-39).