Scripture Passage for Today
“Aaron’s sacred garments must be preserved for his descendants who succeed him, and they will wear them when they are anointed and ordained. The descendant who succeeds him as high priest will wear these clothes for seven days as he ministers in the Tabernacle and the Holy Place (Exodus 29:29-30 NLT)
Observation
I am an ordained minister, and the son of an ordained minister. More specifically, I am a pastor, and the son of a pastor. My dad was more than just a “preacher”...and more than just a “minister” (a word describing one who is legally authorized to conduct weddings, administer communion, and such)—he was a spiritual shepherd who watched over a flock even while living out the truth of the gospel among them.
A person can be ordained without being a pastor, and a person can be a pastor without being ordained. Dad was both, as am I. Indeed, the last time I was in a church service with my dad was the evening he laid hands on me and prayed over me as I was ordained to the ministry. Dad passed away unexpectedly three months later.
That memory remains poignant nearly twenty years later when I read about the instructions for the ordination of Israel’s first high priest, and Israel’s succeeding priests. As part of the ordination process, the sacred garments were to be preserved from generation to generation, and each succeeding high priest was to wear the garments for seven days upon his ordination.
I can’t imagine how any newly ordained priest could wear—for seven days straight—the same priestly garments worn by those who had served ahead of him without feeling both the sacredness and the honor of spiritual leadership. Whatever ministry I offer, I offer in the spirit and heritage of great men and women of God who have served before me—and done so courageously, sacrificially, passionately, and faithfully.
Of course, I do dare to believe that this honor and challenge of serving Christ by serving others is not reserved for those formally “ordained”. Every believer is called to “put on” Christ, and to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”—on the trail He has already blazed for us.
Perhaps today I can live with a deepened awareness of my life wrapped up in Christ’s—tied inextricably to His—and live in a way that reflects His courage, sacrifice, passion, and faith.
3 comments:
I need to do more in my life and "put on" Christ. Thank you Pastor for what you do for us. Thank you Jesus for your help today!
Chapter 29 constantly talks about the need for consecration, whether it be a person or an object. It is only when there is proper consecration that the closest relationship between God and a sinful people is possible. With that in mind those of us who have faith in Christ are called saints. This means that they are set apart which is the definition of consecration; they are "holy ones." As Chistians, all of us have been set apart by God to live holy lives just as Pastor Kent talked about in his personal observation. I have never thought of myself as a "holy one" but, reading this puts a different perspective on my reasoning. I felt filled by the presence of God at that very moment. Prasie God. Glen H
I am continually "awed" at all that the precious blood of Jesus accomplished for me. Reading all the fine details of the old testament makes me more aware and more thankful for the blood of Jesus. There is wonder working power in the precious blood of "the lamb" - Jesus our savior, redeemer, deliverer,
healer... He fulfilled it ALL for us while we were yet sinners. Without Him we are nothing but with Him we are made holy, set apart, righteous....
The more we really "know" who we are in Christ the more beneficial we are to others. I read this in a book today: The you that you see in your minds eyes is the you that you become. Our perception of ourselves is critical. Our challenge is to esteem and see ourselves as God esteems and sees us - through the blood sacrifice of Jesus our Lord.
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