Seasons of Life
Numbers 4:1-3, 22, 23, 29, 30, 47
Pastor Bill Wingard developed a message years ago entitled the Seasons of the Ministry. His four points were “Preparation (Springtime), Propagation (Summertime), Preservation (Fall) and Graduation (Winter). I am going to borrow a few of his thoughts to add to this devotional from Numbers.
SPRING Psalm 71:17 states “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth” Young people, learn all you possibly can during your youth in preparation for what the Lord would have you do in the later seasons of your life. Ecc. 12 (Dig into the Book of Proverbs every opportunity you have)
SUMMER After having been taught the fundamentals of life, we enter into the Summer where we “make hay while the sun shines”; we work “while it’s yet day for the night cometh when no man can work.” John 9:4 In the book of Numbers this age is from 30-50. These are the years that we’re the most active. Enjoy these days for the Fall quickly approaches.
FALL At age 50 or so, the body begins to slow down a bit. We’re not as quick as we used to be. We are to “cease waiting upon the service and serve no more …keep the charge” It’s at this time that we become supervisors, directors, and counselors. Life is definitely not over at 50. We need so desperately godly men and women to be teaching the younger how to serve God in this life.
WINTER Pastor Wingard put it this way “Winter…..will be far more acceptable if
we can say with Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “I am now ready to be offered and the time of
my departure is at hand, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith..” GRADUATION!