1 October Leviticus 22

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood (part 2)

Leviticus 22:1-3 (NIV) “The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the Lord. “Say to them: ‘For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person must be cut off from my presence. I am the Lord”.

In Leviticus Chapter 21, God set forth purity rules for His priests. In Chapter 22, He continues His rules for His priests when they lead others in worship. As discussed yesterday, if you believe in Christ, you are part of His holy priesthood. Confirmed again in 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Leviticus Chapter 22 teaches valuable lessons about living a life dedicated to God. To be effective, we must avoid openly rebelling against His law. As a priest for God, confessing your sins and seeking forgiveness is essential. Staying free from sin requires regularly cleansing yourself through His Word. Always treat what God has given you as holy. A faithful priest for God offers their "living sacrifice" with reverence and purpose. They don’t delay serving Him and are obedient to His Word and calling.

To be effective, we must avoid openly rebelling against His law:

Leviticus 26:14-17(NIV) "But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands...I will set my face against you”.

As a priest for God, it’s important to confess your sins and seek forgiveness:

1 John 1:9(NIV)"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.

Staying free from sin requires regularly cleansing yourself through His Word:

John 15:3(NIV )"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."

Psalm 119:9(NIV) "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word”.

Always treat what God has given you as holy:

Leviticus 10:10(NIV) “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean”.

A true priest for God offers their "living sacrifice" with reverence and purpose:

Romans 12:1(NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship”.

They don’t delay in serving Him:

Romans 12:11(NIV) “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

A priest is obedient to both His Word and His calling:

John 14:15(NIV) "If you love me, keep my commands."

Ephesians 4:2-3(NIV) "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

In conclusion, Leviticus 22 and the reminder from 1 Peter 2:9 affirm that we, as believers, are part of God’s chosen royal priesthood. Just as God called the priests of Israel to maintain holiness and purity in their service, we, too, are called to live lives set apart for Him. This involves confessing our sins, staying cleansed through His Word, and treating all God has entrusted us with reverence. Our lives should be sacrificed purposefully and obedient to His Word and calling. As priests for God, we must not delay serving Him with passion and humility, bearing the responsibility of His calling with the utmost seriousness. Remember that our role is not just about worship but about leading others into the light of His truth and love. Through our faithful service, we can declare the praises of the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.