Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor

Exodus 28:2

Many times, we look at service in the church as a chore and drudgery. We have no joy in God’s service. We even forget that our very life is ministry to God. We get distracted by circumstances, offences of people, the cares of this world, and worries about so many things. Those are times we must take a fresh look at what ministry and our call to serve Him are all about.

In Exodus, God separated Aaron and his sons to serve Him as priests (Exodus 28:1). He gave skills to some people to make sacred garments for them for “dignity and honor” (2). God desired that the priest would walk in dignity and honor in their service. Theirs was a sacred call to stand before a holy God to minister to Him and His people. That required decorum and integrity. It elevated the office of the priesthood to the highest level. It was therefore, not a duty to trifle with.

In Numbers 18:1-7, God clearly defined their responsibilities. They were called to take care of all the sanctuary and altar responsibilities. They were to serve God in holiness, making sacrifices and bringing the people to Him in holiness. In short, God called the Old Testament priests to maintain His holiness among His people.

Unfortunately, the priests were unable to keep the sanctity of the office in this way. The books of the prophets are filled with harsh rebukes from God to the priests for their waywardness and undignified service.

Christ Jesus, however, has established a new and better priesthood, of the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:17). He has offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, and has sat down at the right hand of God (10:12), interceding for us (Rm. 8:34). He has chosen us as His special possession and made us priests in His Kingdom (1 Pt. 2:9).  He has adorned us with beautiful garments (Zech. 3:3-7), the righteousness of Christ Jesus (Rm. 3:22). In this priestly garment, we are called to live with dignity and honor, as we daily serve Him. As priests, we have the same responsibility to maintain His holiness among His people and the world.

It is an exciting call in Christ. We have no excuse to hang our heads in shame and feel powerless in His service (Acts 1:8). He has gifted us with ability (1 Cor. 12:4). We are, therefore, called to walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), in holiness (1 Pt. 1:16), and in purity (Phil. 4:8). For the Kingdom of God, in which we live and serve, is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rm: 14:17).

We have a higher calling from God than the Old Testament priests. We are better adorned, equipped, and enabled to serve Him. We cannot fail Him. We cannot fall into the degenerated priesthood of the Aaronic order.

So, let us rise and serve Him with dignity, honor, and for His glory. It’s the least He could ask of us for all He has done for us.