July 28 Be Priest-like

Ezekiel 42:13-14 Then he said to me, "The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings — the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings — for the place is holy. 14 Once the priests enter the holy precincts, they are not to go into the outer court until they leave behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they go near the places that are for the people."

IN the previous teaching, we looked at being as a cherub, which is one type of angel. Today we'll look at being as a priest. Now, I know we view the occupation "priest" in different contexts based on our understanding of church. But we must put our cultural and worldly knowledge aside and know the Bible teaches us what it is to be as a true priest in Jesus' church.

           First of all, there is only one true priest. He is Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

           The priests of the Old Testament law were formed by God and set apart from the others as demonstration of God's holiness. They were also the picture of the eternal work Jesus would accomplish as our priest. The priests offered daily sacrifices to atone for the Jews' sins. Jesus has offered the one eternal sacrifice to atone for the sins of all who call him, "Lord and Savior."

           Out of Christ's priesthood, then, comes this remarkable relationship between Jesus and his own described in Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."  This is the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel in Exodus 19:6 "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."     

           Being a priest as Jesus, then, isn't a job, but its characteristics mark your eternal relationship with God. Through Jesus' priesthood, you become "priests to serve our God". A true priest as Jesus is set apart unto Christ and has intimate access to God. A true priest as Jesus lives with Jesus in eternity.

           As we consider how we are to be as cherubs (from yesterday) to guard and proclaim God's Word, and as priests to serve him, consider this: The Bible keeps pointing God's merciful salvation to mankind. God created us in his image. He set apart mankind from all other animals to form a holy relationship with us. Since sin entered the world, God has given to us living examples through himself, his angels and his priests, so we will know he desires to set us apart from sin to be with him in an eternal holy relationship.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for loving us so very much. In Jesus' name, amen.