February - 7
ORDAINED TO SPECIAL SERVICE
Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses. Leviticus 8:36
All Israelites were priests (Exodus 19:5), but certain priests were called to special service. Because these priests moved between the areas of Israel’s daily life and the close presence of God, they performed special rituals of cleansing, sacrifice, and clothing.
Israel needed these special priests because God lived in their midst. Priests were ordained at the entrance to the tabernacle, as God instructed. Only by following divine instruction did Aaron and his sons become special servants in the palace of the Great King.
Some things haven’t changed much since then. We still need someone to move between our daily life and the presence of God. We still need a priest specially ordained to serve the Great King. Today we know that this priest is Jesus Christ. He is the great High Priest appointed by God the Father who works on our behalf in the palace of the Great King. Obedient to his Father’s instructions, even unto death as the Lamb of God, this High Priest escorts us into the very presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-25).
All God’s people are priests instructed to live in his presence (1 Peter 2:9). But until Christ comes again, some of God’s people are called to special service. Ministers, elders, and deacons are stewards of the gospel in Jesus’ name. Hear Christ in them. Pray for them.
PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for bringing us into your presence through Christ. Help us also to support those whom you’ve placed in special service among your people. In Jesus, Amen.
所有以色列民都是祭司（出埃及记19:5），但某些祭司是被召去执行特别的职分。因为这些祭司的工作游走于以色列民的日常生活中和神面前，所以，他们负责执行洁净、献祭，以及和衣服有关的特别礼仪。
以色列需要这些特别的祭司，因为神居住在他们当中。按着神的指示，祭司是在会幕门口被按立的，亚伦和他的儿子亦只有遵行这神圣的指示，才能在大君王的皇宫里成为特别的仆人。
自此以后，事情并没有多大改变，我们仍然需要有人游走于我们的日常生活中和神面前，我们仍然需要有一位特别按立的祭司，去事奉那位大君王。今天，我们知道那位祭司就是耶稣基督，祂是父神所按立的大祭司，代表我们在大君王的宫殿中作工，祂顺服父亲的命令，甚至成为神的羔羊，以致于死，这位大祭司引领我们进入神的同在中（希伯来书10:19-25）。
所有属神的子民都是祭司，都要活在神面前（彼得前书2:9），但在基督再来之前，某些神的子民会被召去执行特别的职分。牧师、长老、执事是奉耶稣的名作福音的仆人。所以，我们要在他们身上聆听基督的声音，为他们祷告。
祷告
天父，感谢祢，因为祢借着基督领我们进入祢的同在中。求祢帮助我们支持那些被祢拣选去执行特别职分的人。奉耶稣名求，阿们。