A Priestly Calling

[0:00] A pastor's reflections, a priestly calling.! He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

[0:35] Philippians 3.9 There is no part of our Christian experience that we can enter into on our own merit, effort, or accord.

[0:57] Either we receive what is given to us, or we have nothing. Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest was robed in garments that were both glorious and spectacular, but that were also not his own.

[1:13] As much as they were given to him to wear, they were not his. The garments of the High Priest belonged to the service of God and were unchanging. The High Priest, however, would change as the men who held this office aged and died.

[1:31] Then a new priest would step into that role as High Priest and take up the garments of the High Priest. He then would be High Priest. But he would be so, not because of who he was in particular, but because of who his family was, what he was called to be, and the robes he was covered in.

[1:54] For you and I, we are not in line for the role of High Priest, but we are in line for a role that comes by birth, calling, and attire.

[2:06] John 1.12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

[2:24] The salvation we have been called to, birthed by, and clothed with, was not something that we could simply take upon ourselves.

[2:36] It was something that existed before us and will exist long after us. But the difference is, that under the new covenant, death is no longer a limiting factor.

[2:49] We have come under the ministry of a High Priest that was not bound by death, but overcame death. Today, you can live in a calling far above what you on your own could have ever attained to.

[3:03] Not only are you no longer separated from God, but you are now forever joined with him in his unending ministry as High Priest. Hebrews 10.19-22 Everything we have in God, we have been given by our High Priest.

[3:42] And everything we have been given is forever. Father, thank you for clothing your Son with the ministry of a High Priest. A High Priest that was not a fallible man, but a High Priest who came on behalf of fallible man.

[4:00] Thank you that we can now receive freely what could never have been attained by any other means. Amen.