Consecrating Ourselves to the Lord - Exodus 29-30 and Matthew 21:23-46
The Bible contains many symbols that show us spiritual truths. In these passages we read some of the symbols that have to do with being consecrated to the Lord. In the Old Testament the priests were consecrated to the Lord, but now all believers are priests before God, so we all need to be consecrated to Him all of the time. I pray that these symbols will help us all see what it means to be consecrated to the Lord.
In Exodus 29 and 30 God concludes His instructions to Moses about the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and the emphasis is on the priests and the altars. I believe that the symbols are very important for us to understand and to apply to our lives. First of all, the priests were to wash with water, before they were dressed in their priestly clothing. They were to be clean. The first offering was to be a sin offering, too. This is a picture of being cleansed from sin, being right with God, in order to do His work. Then, they were to be anointed with the special oil. The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. They were to do their work in the power of the Spirit. Finally, there was the incense to be offered continually. I believe that throughout the Bible incense represents prayers. Prayer is so important as we serve the Lord. Now, put those three together. A person who is consecrated to God does not just want to do better. A consecrated person has asked God to cleanse him from sin, he is empowered by the Spirit, and he is constantly praying for God's direction. That is the only way we can do better. Our efforts don't work without God's power.
Look at Matthew 21 from this perspective. The chief priests did not understand Jesus' authority. Why could they, of all people, not understand? They were not consecrated to the Lord. They were trying to do God's work in their own power. Jesus told them the parable of the 2 sons to show that they were not cleansed from their sins, because they were not repentant or obedient. He told the parable of the vineyard to show them that they were the very ones who would kill him, when they should have been the ones to follow Him the most. The reason for their lack of faith was a lack of being consecrated to God. We must all give ourselves fully to the Lord for His cleansing, His anointing, and His direction, or else we will never be able to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 31-33 and Matthew 22:1-22.
In Exodus 29 and 30 God concludes His instructions to Moses about the Tabernacle and its furnishings, and the emphasis is on the priests and the altars. I believe that the symbols are very important for us to understand and to apply to our lives. First of all, the priests were to wash with water, before they were dressed in their priestly clothing. They were to be clean. The first offering was to be a sin offering, too. This is a picture of being cleansed from sin, being right with God, in order to do His work. Then, they were to be anointed with the special oil. The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. They were to do their work in the power of the Spirit. Finally, there was the incense to be offered continually. I believe that throughout the Bible incense represents prayers. Prayer is so important as we serve the Lord. Now, put those three together. A person who is consecrated to God does not just want to do better. A consecrated person has asked God to cleanse him from sin, he is empowered by the Spirit, and he is constantly praying for God's direction. That is the only way we can do better. Our efforts don't work without God's power.
Look at Matthew 21 from this perspective. The chief priests did not understand Jesus' authority. Why could they, of all people, not understand? They were not consecrated to the Lord. They were trying to do God's work in their own power. Jesus told them the parable of the 2 sons to show that they were not cleansed from their sins, because they were not repentant or obedient. He told the parable of the vineyard to show them that they were the very ones who would kill him, when they should have been the ones to follow Him the most. The reason for their lack of faith was a lack of being consecrated to God. We must all give ourselves fully to the Lord for His cleansing, His anointing, and His direction, or else we will never be able to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 31-33 and Matthew 22:1-22.