1Chronicles 25:7 Their number who were trained in singing to the Lord, with their relatives, all who were skillful, was 288
Under the old covenant, the Levites were chosen by God to do the work of ministry in that dispensation.
During the reign of David, they began to assign priestly duties by lots and when they wanted to assign the work of music, they chose the descendants of Asaph.
What caught my attention in the opening text is the phrase, "Their number who were TRAINED in singing to the Lord." You may not know why it caught my attention but I'll explain.
The Levites had only one purpose- priestly duties which included every aspect of temple service. It was their divine calling and ordination.
The question is, "Why were they trained to execute a divine assignment entrusted into their hands. Can't they rely on anointing alone to do the work"?
There's a lesson there for us all. The discovery of your God-ordained purpose does not make training less important.
Being called is not enough. In addition to your glorious calling, add continuous training.
The discovery of your purpose or calling in life is not an automatic license to give it expression without adequate training.
God is not arbitrary in His doings neither is He in a hurry to launch you out; He doesn't launch men out for an assignment without giving room for preparation.
Moses spent the first 80 years of his life undergoing serious divine training. Joshua trained under Moses, Paul trained under Gamaliel in his pre conversion days and after his conversion, trained under Barnabas and spent 3 years in Arabia in preparation for his assignment.
The disciples didn't launch out in ministry not until after they were certified fit by Jesus, their trainer. They attended "Jesus Christ Theological Seminary". The best seminary in history.
It is one thing to know what God want you to do in life and it is another thing to be adequately trained to do that which God has called you to do.
What will take an untrained fellow to achieve in 10 years may take a trained man 2 years. An untrained man may have quantity of result but quality will be lacking. It takes thorough training to be fit for purpose.
An untrained preacher may think preaching is all about elocution and alliterations in expression but a trained preacher knows the art of preaching is to expound scriptures accurately and grow the man in Christ to become mature, transformed and fit for the master's use.
I'm yet to see a star athlete that didn't train his way into stardom. Don't make a mess of that assignment that God has given you even if it looks so 'little' though there's no little assignment in God. Get quality training.
Father, I receive the grace to submit to quality training in the name of Jesus Christ