The Need for a Priest
Like the gentle glow of oil-fed flame, the life of the Spirit quietly burns within the priesthood of every believer, illuminating Christ in the darkness.
In this entry, Ray Stedman draws from Leviticus 8:1–4 to illustrate the essential nature of priesthood—not as a human invention but a divine appointment established by God. The priesthood was not born out of a committee or council, but out of God’s explicit command and design for His people. Stedman highlights six distinct elements of priesthood:
God’s Word – Priesthood begins not with man’s desire but with God’s voice.
Aaron and His Sons – Aaron foreshadows Jesus as our High Priest, and his sons symbolize all believers, who now serve as priests to one another in Christ.
Garments – Symbolic of character, the priestly garments show us what a priest is and does through spiritual qualities.
Anointing Oil – Representing the Holy Spirit, the oil indicates that a priest must operate not in his own effort, but by the Spirit.
Sacrifices – Even the priests, being human, required sacrifices for sin. Redemption is central.
The Assembly – God instructed Moses to gather everyone. He didn’t want anyone to miss the object lesson—every life matters, and every eye was to behold God’s purpose.
All of this, Stedman points out, points forward to Christ—our ultimate High Priest—and to the beautiful truth that all who are in Him are now priests, clothed in His character, anointed by His Spirit, and participating in the redemptive story as intercessors for others.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture:
You are no longer outside the camp or standing in the shadows. You have been brought near by the blood of Christ. The veil has been torn, and you enter not timidly but boldly into My presence, for your High Priest lives forever and intercedes for you without ceasing. You are clothed with garments of salvation and wrapped in robes of righteousness, not your own, but Mine.
I have set you apart as a royal priest, not based on your performance, but because you belong to the One who offered Himself once for all. I have anointed you with My Spirit—not sparingly, but overflowing—so that Christ’s life might be seen in yours, not by effort but by resting in Me.
You carry redemption in your witness, not as one still trying to earn it, but as one who proclaims the finished work of the Cross. When you walk in the Spirit, you are functioning as a priest—serving, interceding, reconciling, and imparting the fragrance of Christ to others.
And I do not isolate you for this role. I have assembled you with others in My Body, each one precious. The youngest child, the eldest elder—none are left out. The world may overlook them, but I don’t. My gathering includes all, for My priesthood is not reserved for the few but extended to all who are in Christ.
Walk forward today, not with the burden of a religious role but with the joy of a calling I’ve equipped you for. Christ in you is your sufficiency. And He is enough.
Scripture references: Ephesians 2:13; Hebrews 10:19–22; Isaiah 61:10; 1 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 7:24–25; Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 2:14–15; Romans 12:5.
Prayer:
Lord, what a joy to live as one You’ve already made holy, already clothed in righteousness, already empowered by Your Spirit. I don’t need to strive to enter into this priesthood—You have brought me in by grace. I’m not operating as an outsider trying to please You, but as one who has already been made acceptable in the Beloved.
I trust You to express Your priestly heart through me today—to intercede through me, to love through me, and to minister the aroma of Christ wherever You lead me. You’ve gathered me into this beautiful fellowship of the redeemed, and I rejoice that You’ve chosen not the qualified, but those who trust.
Let my heart stay attuned to the movements of Your Spirit and my words reflect the reality of my high calling in Christ. I know that today is not about what I can do for You, but about what You’re doing in and through me. I yield to that—and I delight in it.
Amen.
Devotional Credit:
“Immeasurably More” by Ray Stedman
Photo Credit: Unsplash