"And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil (you shall make them of wheat flour.)"
Exodus 29:1-2
When reading this passage this morning, I was struck by how seriously God takes His ministry, and how I often forget the gravity of being in ministry and take it lightly, or worse, for granted.
Sometimes I think that because I signed up to join this service organization or because I wear the t-shirt or go to the meetings that I am partaking in the ministry, but it is so much deeper than that. Being a spiritual leader is more than a name tag or title, it requires of you a holiness, a set-apartness, and a sacrifice.
Exodus 29:1 spells it out: "And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them..." In the Hebrew that word "to hallow" can also mean to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be holy, be sanctified, and be separate. The word is so much deeper than at first glance! To be set apart for ministry involves outside work and preparation, forsaking of other interests for dedication to the work of the Lord, a willingness to be daily changed and sanctified, and an eagerness to distinguish oneself from the world and culture and be different.
The commands to bring offerings "without blemish" serve as a reminder that sacrifice was not an opportunity to get rid of lesser livestock. Offering one's best is an expressions of thanksgiving and faith in God's provision. Just as God demanded the best of the ancient priests, He deserves our best today!
And before you discount this encouragement saying,"But I'm not a priest!", take a look at 1 Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (emphasis mine)
We who have been saved and called into His great light are a special people. Let us proclaim His praises with that in mind!
So how will you live a set-apart life, offering God your best, today?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Rejoice, we have been delivered!
Recently in my personal devotion time I read the story of Passover in Exodus 12. In it, the Lord is telling Moses about how the Israelites should prepare their unleavened bread and herbs. The people are also told how they should eat: "And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feel, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover." (Exodus 12:11)
Culturally speaking, they would not have their sandals on in the house and their staff would be propped near the door. But not this night.
They were to eat quickly because they had to be ready to leave. Tonight was the night they had been waiting for- they were going to be delivered from the hands of the Egyptians!
Imagine celebrating Passover in the years to follow. When Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, they still observed the tradition but without the attitude of haste. In fact, they were so relaxed, John lay his head on Jesus's chest (John 13:23). I doubt they had their shoes and staffs close at hand, ready to flee from Egypt. That would just be silly.
Why? Because their deliverance from Egypt was complete. It had already been accomplished.
God has miraculously delivered us too. We too were once in bondage to our sinful flesh, our human nature. But not so anymore! He has set us free.
But so often I forget that my deliverance is complete. comprehensive. finished.
So often I sit with my Converse and staff (I couldn't think of a modern equivalent...) waiting for deliverance from my sins, habits, temptations, circumstances, fill-in-the-blank...forgetful of the fact the power those things had over me was buried 2000 years ago! Time and again, I need to be reminded that my striving for personal salvation is utterly pointless; my deliverance is complete! I need not live FOR salvation, but FROM salvation.
I don't know about you, but that brings me hope and joy! Psalm 71:15 sums it up rather well, "My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." Psalm 13:6 says, "I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me."
Have a great week and sing to the Lord, for He has been good to us!
P.S. Here's a little song that I love that expresses these sentiments exactly!
Culturally speaking, they would not have their sandals on in the house and their staff would be propped near the door. But not this night.
They were to eat quickly because they had to be ready to leave. Tonight was the night they had been waiting for- they were going to be delivered from the hands of the Egyptians!
Imagine celebrating Passover in the years to follow. When Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, they still observed the tradition but without the attitude of haste. In fact, they were so relaxed, John lay his head on Jesus's chest (John 13:23). I doubt they had their shoes and staffs close at hand, ready to flee from Egypt. That would just be silly.
Why? Because their deliverance from Egypt was complete. It had already been accomplished.
God has miraculously delivered us too. We too were once in bondage to our sinful flesh, our human nature. But not so anymore! He has set us free.
But so often I forget that my deliverance is complete. comprehensive. finished.
So often I sit with my Converse and staff (I couldn't think of a modern equivalent...) waiting for deliverance from my sins, habits, temptations, circumstances, fill-in-the-blank...forgetful of the fact the power those things had over me was buried 2000 years ago! Time and again, I need to be reminded that my striving for personal salvation is utterly pointless; my deliverance is complete! I need not live FOR salvation, but FROM salvation.
I don't know about you, but that brings me hope and joy! Psalm 71:15 sums it up rather well, "My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." Psalm 13:6 says, "I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me."
Have a great week and sing to the Lord, for He has been good to us!
P.S. Here's a little song that I love that expresses these sentiments exactly!
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