Consecrated for God's Work
Exodus 40:12-15: "Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations."
With the work of the tabernacle complete, it was time to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests. God had chosen Aaron and his family to serve him and the people in this high and holy calling. To enter that calling, Aaron and his sons had a week-long consecration process. Moses washed them, gave them their holy garments, and then anointed them with the special oil created for the consecration of the priests and the tabernacle. In their week-long consecration process, Aaron and his sons were cleansed of sin and made holy before God and the people to enter the tabernacle and to perform the duties within that tabernacle. The continual offering of sacrifices continued to cleanse these men of their sins and provide entrance into the holy place of God. The anointing oil sacramentally represented the power of God's Holy Spirit upon these men.
Aaron and his sons could not make themselves holy and fit to appear before the Lord, just as we cannot make ourselves holy and fit to appear before the Lord. In the New Testament, all the people of God are called to be a holy priesthood. The Apostle Peter writing to the entire church says, "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).
Like the priests of old, we must be cleansed of our sins. God's forgiveness given through the sacrifice of Jesus continually cleanses us of our sin. When he looks on us, he sees the righteousness of Christ. Through the waters of baptism, we are baptized into Christ's death on the cross and purified of our unrighteousness. Baptism points to our deeper spiritual cleansing, "not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience" (1 Peter 3:21).
And like the priests of old, we are to be anointed for the work God has given us to do. The Lord consecrates us for his work in the kingdom, and we are set apart from the world to fulfill his holy calling on our lives. Upon confessing faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Lord implants the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. His presence is that anointing Messianic power. The Holy Spirit, through "the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23), empowers us in holiness that we "may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17).
This holy calling requires the presence and guidance of the Lord. As the high priest, Aaron wore special garments that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and the Urim and Thummim as God's divine guidance for him and the nation of Israel. Now, God's presence is available to us through Christ and indwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. The Lord guides us through this Spirit and through the written word of the Scriptures.
Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to live out this calling:
Paul's words for them are also God's words to us. We are cleansed, anointed and equipped for all of God's work. Now, we must do that work through the power of the Holy Spirit, always seeking to be faithful and obedient unto Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection:
Is this how you see yourself - as one cleansed, anointed, and called to build God's kingdom, to do his holy work in this world? Ministry is not just for the priests anymore. As God's children, we are all set apart and empowered to do his holy work. May we faithfully seek to do that work today and each day for the rest of our lives. Are you fulfilling God's call on your life and living into this consecrated lifestyle?
With the work of the tabernacle complete, it was time to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests. God had chosen Aaron and his family to serve him and the people in this high and holy calling. To enter that calling, Aaron and his sons had a week-long consecration process. Moses washed them, gave them their holy garments, and then anointed them with the special oil created for the consecration of the priests and the tabernacle. In their week-long consecration process, Aaron and his sons were cleansed of sin and made holy before God and the people to enter the tabernacle and to perform the duties within that tabernacle. The continual offering of sacrifices continued to cleanse these men of their sins and provide entrance into the holy place of God. The anointing oil sacramentally represented the power of God's Holy Spirit upon these men.
Aaron and his sons could not make themselves holy and fit to appear before the Lord, just as we cannot make ourselves holy and fit to appear before the Lord. In the New Testament, all the people of God are called to be a holy priesthood. The Apostle Peter writing to the entire church says, "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).
Like the priests of old, we must be cleansed of our sins. God's forgiveness given through the sacrifice of Jesus continually cleanses us of our sin. When he looks on us, he sees the righteousness of Christ. Through the waters of baptism, we are baptized into Christ's death on the cross and purified of our unrighteousness. Baptism points to our deeper spiritual cleansing, "not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience" (1 Peter 3:21).
And like the priests of old, we are to be anointed for the work God has given us to do. The Lord consecrates us for his work in the kingdom, and we are set apart from the world to fulfill his holy calling on our lives. Upon confessing faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Lord implants the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. His presence is that anointing Messianic power. The Holy Spirit, through "the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23), empowers us in holiness that we "may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17).
This holy calling requires the presence and guidance of the Lord. As the high priest, Aaron wore special garments that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and the Urim and Thummim as God's divine guidance for him and the nation of Israel. Now, God's presence is available to us through Christ and indwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. The Lord guides us through this Spirit and through the written word of the Scriptures.
Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to live out this calling:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Paul's words for them are also God's words to us. We are cleansed, anointed and equipped for all of God's work. Now, we must do that work through the power of the Holy Spirit, always seeking to be faithful and obedient unto Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection:
Is this how you see yourself - as one cleansed, anointed, and called to build God's kingdom, to do his holy work in this world? Ministry is not just for the priests anymore. As God's children, we are all set apart and empowered to do his holy work. May we faithfully seek to do that work today and each day for the rest of our lives. Are you fulfilling God's call on your life and living into this consecrated lifestyle?
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