Seek. That's all you have to do.

Ask, and it'll be given.

Wait, and it will happen.

God bless!

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week [New tomorrow!]:

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor." - Exodus 28:2

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Grace in the Temple - Exodus 29:19-34

Covered by the Blood

19: "Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head."

20: "Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar."

21: "And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated."

22: "Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh."

23: "From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the LORD, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf."

24: "Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the LORD as a wave offering."

25: "Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, a food offering presented to the LORD."

26: "After you take the of the ram for Aaron's ordination, wave it before the LORD as a wave offering, and it will be your share."

 

Sharing the Privilege

27: "Consecrate those parts of the rodination ram that belong to Aaron and his sons: the that was waved and the thigh that was presented."

28: "This is always to be the perpetual share from the Israelites for Aaron and his sons. It is the contribution the Israelites are to make to the LORD from their fellowship offerings."

29: "Aaron's sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them."

30: "The son who succeeds him as priest and comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days."

31: "Take the ram for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place."

32: "At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket."

33: "They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred."

34: "And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred."

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Reflection

Covered by the Blood (29:19-26)

There has been deep spiritual significance in blood since the days of Cain and Abel. When Cain slew Abel, Abel's blood cried out fro the ground to the Lord. Here in this passage, blood once again plays an important role in atonement, consecration, and purification. In verses 19-21, blood is used on the priests and the altar to consecrate them for God's holy use; from that point on, they will always be sacred.

Passages like these have significance on their own, but they take on greater significance when we see them through a Christological lens. They foreshadow the atonement, consecration, and purification that would come as a result of the blood of Christ covering over His people. Just as the blood of the animal was placed on Aaron and his sons to allow them to enter into God's presence, so Christ's blood covers us and allows us to be with God.

 

Sharing the Privilege (29:27-34)

Although the responsibilities of the Aaronic priests were heavy, it was clearly a privilege to be counted among God's holy servants. Only God's priests could wear the sacred articles of clothing, especially the plate and the headpieces. Only the priests could eat the sacred food and enter into the sacred areas of the temple. Some other Israelites would have given anything to have had this privilege as well.

Today, all Christians are counted as holy priests of God (1 Pet. 2:9). We all have the privilege of entering into God's presence and sharing all sacred things with Him. Instead of seeing this as something mundane, we should be in awe and thankfulness at the privilege that is shared with us. The same fear and reverence that the Aaronic priests had before God ought to be the daily attitude of all Christians. Unfortunately, such reverent fear is much lacking today.

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Application

-Take a moment to meditate on the effects that the covering of Christ's blood has had on your life. Think about the fact that His blood is perfect and infinite in power and holiness.

-Why did God offer us the privilege of sacred access? It is because God delights in us and wants greater fellowship and intimacy with His people. The only proper response to this invitation is to spend more time with Him.

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"The blood of Christ stands not simply for the sting of sin on God but the scourge of God on sin, not simply for God's sorrow over sin, but for God's wrath on sin."

-P.T. Forsyth

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Priestly Qualifications

While Aaron and the priests did not go through a rigorous training process such as seminary and church internships, they did go through an intense purification process. Before they could minister before the people, they had to make sure that they themselves were clean and committed to God.

As is always the case, this detailed process of being consecrated as a priest had a significant purpose and a reason behind every action. For example, in Exodus 29:20, God commands the priests to put blood on various parts of their bodies. This is more than just a test of their will and obedience. As J. Ligon Duncan states, "It perhaps indicates that the priest will hear God and obey Him in what he does. His hands and His feet will be swift to obey the Lord."

But this action has more meaning still. It is prophetic too. As Duncan continues, "We see here something of the foreshadowing of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ even in the branding of blood of the priest at the time of the ordination." Even the priests needed to be branded with the blood of Christ in order to be forgiven. Going through the motions is not enough. Learning every law is not enough. Every man, woman, priest, and king must be forgiven by the atoning blood of Christ. There are no exceptions. There is only one qualification for becoming a priest of the Most High God: be covered in His blood.

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A Letter to God

Heavenly Father, thank You for the blood of Your Son, which has covered me and given me access to Your throne.

Thank You for making me sacred and inviting me to serve You as a priest and minister.

May I serve You with fear and reverence. Amen.