Bibledoorajar: Extraordinary Living

     When those Old Testament priests were consecrated it was necessary for each to touch the sacrifice. It was an extraordinary and eternally significant event. When Jesus walked with His disciples, many who would later become apostles, John says that they not only saw Him but that they touched Him. It was a witness that was broader than that of an eye witness--they actually touched Him. To touch a sacrifice provided by God and given for a spiritual purpose is an extraordinary thing. It could not be more real. Luke concludes in his writings that all the witnesses that have gone before lays a strong basis for the continued testimony about Jesus being given by God.
     In church yesterday, our preacher was calling attention to living an extraordinary life in the midst of the ordinary (and sometimes difficult) things of earth. Once again we were encouraged to consider Jesus our High Priest. Though some things are yet to come, He is present with us. Sometimes Christians think they just live "plain ole ordinary lives" but we are not remembering just how extraordinary our lives are. Not everyone living is living the extraordinary in a God given way.
In church I just wanted to say, can we please sing We Gather Together? This hymn was first written at a time of great oppression when the king of Spain forbade Protestants to gather together for spiritual purposes. The song came to America as the Dutch migrated to this country. By the time of World War I, the song was resonating with many people in America as our nation faced extraordinary times of difficulty. But now it seems the hymn is sung mostly at Thanksgiving in most congregations. However,  it is a hymn that restores our faith in His ability to allow us to spiritually live extraordinary lives even in the midst of woes every day of the year and can be especially helpful to congregations striving for mutual faith.

            "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessings;
              He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
              The wicked oppressing, now cease from distressing;
              Sing praises to His Name, He forgets not His own.

              Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
              Ordaining, maintaining, His kingdom divine;
               So from the beginning, the fight we are winning;
               Thou Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

               We do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
                And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;
                 Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
                 Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
                                                                       Dutch Hymn

Bibledoorajar: Do the clothes make the man?

We have spent a good deal of time thinking about the clothing which God commanded for the priests of  Israel to wear. It was all designed to make the family of Aaron realize yet again the significance of their birth into the family who had been privileged to serve. Their dress brought glory and honor to the Lord. However, each and every one born to that privilege had to be consecrated before he could serve. Seven days of ceremonies that included sacrifices were required to complete the consecration of Israel's priests. The ceremony involved carefully washing the priests elect with water in order that they might be sanctified. Next, every priest-elect laid hands on the animals who would shed their blood (a bullock and two rams) so that all of them would identify with the importance of the shed blood (justification).
Aaron and his sons were also anointed with a spiced oil that was fragrant to smell and a wonderful reminder of the Lord and His goodness. Have you experienced Jesus in this way?  Have you been born again and are you enjoying "His Name is as ointment poured forth". The writer of Hebrews asks you to consider Him, the oil poured forth, and accept that you are partakers in the heavenly calling of being a priest unto God fully sanctified and justified. All because we have confessed the Lordship and High Priest calling of Christ who gave his precious blood for us.

                     "Thy Name is As Ointment Poured Forth
                     Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
                     Thy Name is As Ointment Poured Forth
                     Thy Name is As Ointment Poured Forth

                     We love Thee With All of Our Heart
                      Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
                      We love Thee With All of Our Heart
                      We love Thee With All of Our  Heart"
                                                     Joel Erikson

"pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes"   Song of Solomon

Bibledoorajar: The Wonder of His Righteousness

     The last item of priests' clothing mentioned in Exodus is their breeches. These breeches were to fit from the loins to the calves of the priest and had to be worn anytime they were ministering in anyway to God Himself.  They were made of two kinds of white linen and were adequate to cover the priest's nakedness and sinful nature.  If not worn, the priests could meet an untimely death in the tabernacle.
     Sometimes we take the righteousness of Christ for granted. We sometimes forget to approach the Father through Him. This is really a dangerous practice since God can only be approached in righteousness for He is righteous.  It is never too early to train your children to say their prayers in Jesus name and to give them an idea that Jesus is busy in Heaven for our sake.

    " God's Christ who is my righteousness
     My beauty is, my glorious dress;
     Midst flaming worlds in this arrayed,
     With joy shall I lift up my head."
                                 Count Zinzendorf

Today would be a good day to review Jude 1:24. It will make you feel confident and bold for the Lord.