Oh, What a Picture!/ subject: ministry

READING: Lev. 7,8,9 and Acts 15

SCRIPTURE: Lev. 8:7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him.
Lev. 8:30 Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments.

OBSERVATION: In verse 7 I noticed that Aaron could not dress himself. Moses dressed him and his sons in their fancy robes, turbans, sashes and the jeweled ephod. Verse 30 describes the anointing process. Aaron and his sons were sprinkled with anointing oil, representing their being chosen and approved by the Holy Spirit for their ministry tasks and also sprinkled with blood from the sacrifice, signifying their need for cleansing and forgiveness from their own sin.

APPLICATION: What a picture these verses give us! First, none of us, even the most anointed ministers among us, can do our jobs alone. Our call is always one that involves community. Just as Aaron and his sons could not dress themselves, we cannot fulfill God's call on our lives independent of others in the Body of Christ. We need one antoher to reach our spiritual potential. Second, the anointing of Aaron and his sons is the most concise picture of man's glory and depravity. God specified how the robes were to be made that Aaron and his sons were to minister in, and they were grand beyond even what the Pope wears today. Strands of gold woven into the fabric, gold bells on the hem, a jeweled ephod and a golden diadem with "Holy to the Lord" worn on the head of Aaron. All this for the stated purpose of giving them "honor and dignity". God created us for high purpose and in His glorious image, and these garments are signs to us that we should never forget our high calling. And yet, the depravity of our sin nature and our need for cleansing from must not be forgotten either. So these gorgeous robes are stained, permanently, for all to see. They are stained with anointing oil, to remind us that we need the Holy Spirit to fulfill our call from God. Then they are stained with blood from animals sacrificed to pay the price for the sin of these priests.

PRAYER: Father, help me to always keep in mind that I bear Your image. You created me for greatness; for serving You in community with others. And also keep me mindful of the great price paid for the forgiveness of my sin. No longer do I need animals to die for me, but the precious blood of Jesus cleanses me once and for all time. May I never forget that I need You to anoint me and that I need to maintain a grateful heart for the sacrifice of my Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.