It Takes Time

"You shall not go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day that the period of your ordination is fulfilled; for he will ordain you through seven days. The Lord has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded." -Leviticus 8.33-35

After the ceremony wraps, the process of ordination is not complete. Aaron and his sons must remain in the tent of meeting for seven days. This isn't a couple hour service and then it's over, remember this is serious business, and it takes time. The Bible doesn't tell us what took place during this week, but I think it's safe to assume there was a lot of interaction with God.

Think back to Exodus, and Aaron's failure to lead the people. Think to what it said about Joshua, how he would not leave the tent of meeting all night. Maybe this was Aaron's chance to do what Joshua had done. God is preparing Aaron and his sons to represent the people before Him. He did pick names out of a hat and set them to work; He intentionally chose these men, and intentionally ordained them. The process was serious, and it took time.

Men, there are many things in life that aren't instantaneous. Everything worth doing takes time to accomplish. Holiness takes time, a lifetime in fact, and even then we don't fully attain it. The masculine journey also takes a lifetime. I realize I started with the major ones and now really don't feel like I need to give any other examples.

My own path to ordination was a seven year journey. I spent four years academically preparing, meeting the course requirements laid out by the denomination. During part of that time I began to undertake part of the experiential hands on aspect, but a majority of that came in the three years following college. But during all of that God was at work in me. He was molding my character, shaping my thinking, transforming my views. It took time, and even though I have been ordained, the process still continues. God is still at work in me, and He is still at work in you.

It takes time, are you in it for the long haul?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Serious Business

"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting." -Leviticus 8.2-3

The Ordination ceremony is about to take place, and God instructs Moses to prepare for it. He is to have a bull for the sin offering and two rams for another offering. Three animals will die to purify and consecrate Aaron, his sons, and the Tabernacle with its items for service to God. And all of this is to be done in the presence of the people.

Ordination is a serious matter, because it marks someone entering the service of God and embracing His calling upon their life. It is a big deal, not something done casually or privately. All those who are called to be spiritual leaders must have come to new life. Their sins must be forgiven and cleansed so that they can walk in righteousness as they lead others to God. They must also be made holy. They have been called to serve, and God has set them apart for this purpose. They must be consecrated and made holy so that they are fit to serve God. And all of this is to be done publicly.

Men, not all of us are called to serve God as ordained ministers. But all of us are called to serve Him in some capacity. All of us are set apart for a specific work by God. It's a serious task because people's eternal souls are at stake.

If we would seek to be used in the service of God we first must experience the new life that He offers. Without forgiveness we cannot be righteous, and if we are not righteous we cannot serve God because our sin is separating us from Him. Following this we must grow in our new life by pursuing holiness. God created us to become like Him, and part of the reason He sent Jesus was to show us how to live life. Once we have received the new life that God offers through Christ, we must strive to live like Christ lived. We need to become holy.

Finally, this needs to be public. The work of God is not a private or secret matter. If we are to rescue people's souls we have to be involved and interact with people. People need to know our commitment to God and where we stand. They need to know that this is a serious thing, not just an emotional response.

This is serious business we are about, let us take it seriously. No animals are going to die, but people's souls face eternal death. Let us seek new life, pursue holiness, and work to rescue the lost. Let us take this business seriously.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor