Leviticus 22 -- Ministering Unqualified

“For a priest to serve the Lord acceptably, it wasn’t enough merely that he qualify as a son of Aaron without any physical defects.  He also had to carry on his ministry in such a way that the Lord was pleased with him.  The worshippers might look at the outward ritual, but God would look at his inner heart,” my commentary said.

One problem that could easily enter his ministry is the drudgery of routine.  “The priests offered sacrifices all day long, all year long; it would be easy for them to develop an attitude of professionalism that would turn a sacred ritual into a shallow routine … Nothing is so deadening to the divine as an habitual dealing with the outsides of holy things,” my commentary noted.

A priest could become unclean and worry more about people knowing he was unclean than about serving God while unclean.  “He’d be putting himself ahead of God, more concerned about his reputation than his character … All who serve the Lord and the Lord’s people must be open and honest before God and must minister first of all to please Him alone … The greatest protection against professionalism and hypocrisy in ministry is the fear of the Lord as revealed in a tender conscience … Once conscience is defiled, it gradually gets worse, and eventually it may be so seared that it has no sensitivity at all.”

Father, You know my heart always, and I need to be more worried about what You know than what people may know.  Help me to be quick to admit my sin to You and to ask for forgiveness.  Don’t let me try to hide anything from You or try to ignore my sin.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford