Sweeter Than Honey: Never Too Old to do God's Work

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? What if we committed to doing that all year long and by the year’s end we found that we had read the entire Bible!?

How many times, on January 1, have you committed to reading the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I have made that commitment too many times to count, and I have failed too many times to admit.

​A few years ago though, I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary.

Did you know that Genesis was not the first book of the Bible written? While plans like this vary somewhat, because it is simply impossible to put an exact date on some books of the Bible, the plan I used begins with the book of Job.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON [PAPERBACK | KINDLE]

Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, friend. It is patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

On Tuesdays, now through the end of the year, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through Sweeter Than Honey together! I'd also like to encourage you to Join us over at the private, Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and share your thoughts. You'll find like-minded, Christian friends there. Let’s do this! Come join us as we move through the book and God's Word together.

We're waiting for you!

1 Chronicles 23-25: Never Too Old to do God's Work

"When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel." (1 Chronicles 23:1)

David was old now, “full of days” the Bible records, but he’s not retiring from God’s work. 

As a young boy, David spent his days and nights in the countryside organizing his father’s sheep. David was just a young shepherd boy, in 1 Samuel 16, probably about 15 years old, when Samuel anointed him as king. David reigned as Israel’s king for 40 years during one of the most prosperous periods in Israel's history. Now, “old and full of days,” David makes his son Solomon king over Israel and sets out to organize the Levites, the Priests, and the Musicians. Scripture even tells us that these were some of his last words. “For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered…” (1 Chronicles 23:27). David may have been “old and full of days,” but he was not done serving God!

Today, let’s just look at one of these groups that David organized—the Levites.

"David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men." (1 Chronicles 23:2-3)

"These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, the heads of fathers' houses as they were listed according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. For David said, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. And so the Levites no longer need to carry the Tabernacle or any of the things for its service.’ For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God.” (1 Chronicles 23:24-28)

Let’s look at just a part of the Levites’ duty: “…they were to stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, and whenever burnt offerings were offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord" (1 Chronicles 23:30-31). Thanking and praising the Lord was part of the Levites’ duty. They performed this part of their duty every morning and evening, and whenever burnt offerings were offered on Sabbaths, at new moons, and feast days. I think I’d like that part of the Levites’ job! 
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Today, let’s remember these two things: Like King David, you are never too old to serve God, and like the Levites, thanking and praising God is part of our job as well!

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I've been reading a book by Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt called Aging With Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture​. Friend, if you haven't read this book, you need to go grab it today! I highly recommend it.

If you've read it, I'd love to hear what you think. It's been a huge inspiration to me in this new season of life I find myself in and I think  we may just make this book our Summer 2022 Book Club-Style Bible Study book.

​You read it here first!

Aging with Grace by the Power of the Gospel
​
Whatever season of life you’re in, God has equipped you to flourish―to live in the transforming power and beauty of His grace. As we age, we can easily lose sight of this message as cultural ideals glorifying youth take center stage.

In this book, Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt offer present-day and biblical examples of women who rediscovered Gospel-rooted joy later in their lives. Equipped with a biblical view of aging, Aging with Grace will help you encounter afresh the Gospel that “is big enough, good enough, and powerful enough to make every season of life significant and glorious.”

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What are you thanking and praising God for today?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a Love Letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can!

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in! ​

JOIN THE SWEETER THAN HONEY PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP

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