A Serious Business

"Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes."
Psalms 26:8‭-‬10.

Serving God is such a privilege & honor-but that also means it is a serious business! Many people might even think that the leaders & priests of the Old Testament were chosen because they were "God's favorites" & they were the "best at following the rules." However, this isn't the case! The priests & those in authority needed to make sacrifices for their own sins & abstain from the same profanities as the rest of God's people! In fact, because of their level of commitment, even more was expected of them!

They did not want to gather their souls with sinners, as the above Psalm Scripture states!

"They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy." Leviticus 21:6.

The priests are the people who offer sacrifices for themselves & for the people, and they offer the bread of their God as well! As it says above, "therefore they shall be holy." The priests did not hold themselves to a high standard because they were perfect. They did it because of the significant role they had & responsibility they had to God and His people!

"For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous," Leviticus 21:18.

This wasn't at all saying these people were less than anyone else. This just signifies God's expectations for us. Remember, in the New Testament, Jesus not only forgives people for their sins, but He also removes blemishes. We were never meant to stay in a state of sinfulness or sickness! There was always an opportunity for a better life through the power of God! Remember, He is the Great Physician, and I'm sure there were opportunities for healing in the Old Testament too! God loves all people, and loves us enough to bring us out of all types of suffering!

The same expectations went for the offerings!

"Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats." Leviticus 22:19.

Remember, there will be no more pain, suffering & sickness when we enter into Heaven with God! And Scripture states: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10. So we should desire an environment here on earth which most resembles heaven. That's why God has these standards! We can trace the history of the priesthood forward & backward to Jesus. It is a royal priesthood!

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4.

Just like Jesus said our humility determines our greatness in the kingdom of heaven, the priests too needed to be humbled & offer sacrifices unto God. No one is perfect & exempt from these things! That's why the Pharisees in the New Testament ran into such trouble-they thought their position put them in right standing with God, but really, it's a practice of sacrifice & meekness!

"Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land." Leviticus 22:24.

So let's offer our very best unto God! Let's increase our level of commitment, because God means business! Again, when we fully commit ourselves to Jesus, we are part of His Bloodline of the priesthood. It's not a position given out of favoritism, but out of forgiveness! The removal of sin qualifies us for so much more!