Read: Exodus 28-29
Focus Verse: “Whenever Aaron Evers the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breast piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Also put the Uris and the Thummim in the great piece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the LORD. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD.” (Exodus 28:29-30).
Devotion: God’s appointed priests, Aaron and his offspring, are given such elaborate outfits and steps to become God’s priests. To represent the people to God and God to the people, God’s priests were made to appear in a specific manor. They stood out. Further, it says the people Aaron represented had their names engraved over his heart. Aaron wore a necklace of stones over his heart that had the names of the tribes of Israel so that when he made decisions they would always be decisions made with his heart. Just think about that, the people Aaron represented to God were engraved on his heart. Those we hold in ministry are held deeply on our heart, those we cry to God for, and whom we take God to are written on our heart. When we invite someone to church, or share our story with another person, we are called to have that person constantly on our heart to God in prayer. This robe serves two functions then, to represent God to the nation through the priest, and to hold the nation close to the priest’s heart. How do you look—what do you do—to represent God to the world? And do you keep people close to your heart as you pray?
Pray: LORD help me remember this; all my students names, and everyone at my church, everyone in my city, and beyond. Let their names be written on my heart as your priest. God you entrust us with the responsibility to be Your representative. Let me be a good one and let me bring people to you by carrying them in my heart. Amen!
Additional Scripture: “May the LORD of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)