Aaron and his sons are being consecrated as the priests, meaning they are being set apart. They are being set apart for God’s purposes. They are going to serve God and His people.

Of course, that’s our calling too, serve God and serve others. It can equate to love God and love others, which is the greatest commandment and sums up all the others.

Love is other-oriented. Love does not seek its own. It’s not selfish. Love serves without thought of getting something in return.

The apostles didn’t expect to be served. They expect suffering, which they rejoiced in because it meant they were able to serve unselfishly.

Do you live to serve? That doesn’t mean living as a doormat. It means living for God’s purposes. It’s the dying to self and laying down your life. Do you do the dishes thankful that you get this chance to serve, or grumbling that someone should be serving you and doing them?

Do you play again to serve your kids, or do you retreat for “me” time because you want to relax? I’ve done each of those both ways. One feels a whole lot better than the other (and it’s not the selfish one).

The Bible says that sin can be a passing pleasure, but its end is death. All those acts of selfishness are killing you.

A life of joy and peace starts with a life of love, and a life of love is marked by a life of service.

The Lord isn’t a slave master. He will send others to serve you, which you can graciously receive because you know the joy of serving and want to give others the benefit.

God gives us His Sabbath, His restful presence to carry us, revive us, and soldier us on when it’s tough, but also to thrill us, bring us joy and peace, teach us, encourage us, and let us know how deeply we are loved.

Walking in the knowledge of how deeply you are loved makes any act of service a joy.