Monday, June 16, 2008

Prior to the giving of the law to the Levite, Moses, two men served as High Priests for the purpose of intervening for others in accordance with God's purposes.

Melchizedek provided Communion to Abraham and Abraham played an important role in the redemption of his son, Isaac.

Neither man was a descendant of the tribe of Levi, since Levi would descend from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Paul uses reference to these early Priests to illustrate that God does not only draw His agents from the lone tribe of Levi and He emphasizes this with Jesus, who is from the tribe of Judah.

In the first Passover, God instructed every male head of household to perform the intervening act of providing for the first born by slaying the lamb, spreading the blood, roasting the lamb and disposing of it before sunrise as a redemptive act for every firstborn in that household.

How does that apply to you and me?

Can we say that we have no Priestly responsibilities? Or does the Great Commission empower us and place the responsibility to intervene for others upon our shoulders?

Nick Harris, a retired Methodist Preacher once stated, "Dads, it's not pastor's responsibility to bring the Lamb to your children. It's not mom's responsibility. It's your responsibility, dad."

On the original Passover, firstborns were spared. They didn't spare themselves. Those firstborns were spared because of the obedience of God's agents who took actions prescribed by God.

Acting in behalf of others, in faith, we can be priests leading to the redemption of others.