After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.
Exodus 28:41 NIV
In Exodus 28:41, God gives Moses a clear instruction regarding Aaron and his sons. This verse unveils a crucial truth—Aaron and his sons could not serve as priests simply because they desired to. Their willingness could not qualify them. Instead, God required a deliberate process of consecration. He called them, anointed them, and set them apart with sacred garments that signified their divine appointment.
Likewise, this principle still holds true for us today. Although we no longer need the physical robes, we cannot step into God’s purpose for our lives merely because we want to. Desire alone will never suffice. God expects spiritual preparation—a consecration and an anointing that only He can initiate.
Thankfully, the New Testament affirms this truth. In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Paul writes:
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
Here, Paul clarifies that God Himself strengthens and establishes us in Christ. He doesn’t simply call us; He also equips us. In fact, God places His seal on our lives and fills us with His Spirit. This seal is more than a symbol—it is a divine mark of ownership and commitment. Paul compares it to an engagement ring, a promise of what lies ahead.
More importantly, the Holy Spirit is not just a token of our faith—He is the empowering presence of God within us. Just as Aaron and his sons needed special garments to mark their calling, we now receive the Spirit of God to set us apart. We wear no visible robe, yet we are clothed inwardly with the very mind and presence of God.
Because of Christ, we no longer serve as mediators between God and others. He alone is our eternal High Priest. Nevertheless, we have been brought near. Through the Spirit, we now have direct access to God’s presence—not by physical garments, but by the inward reality of being Spirit-filled.
For this reason, we must not take our calling lightly. The Holy Spirit is the essential qualification for every believer seeking to walk in God’s purpose. Without Him, we cannot fulfil our calling. With Him, however, we become fully equipped to carry out God’s righteous demands.
So, just as Aaron followed a divine process before entering priestly service, we too must yield to the Spirit’s preparation. God has not left us to figure it out on our own—He has given us His very presence to guide and empower us.
Living It Out
Ask yourself today: Am I trying to walk in God’s purpose based only on desire? Or have I surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s work of consecration in my life?
Take time to pray. Ask the Lord to clothe you with His Spirit and to prepare your heart for service. Let Him shape you, sanctify you, and equip you. You do not serve in your own strength—you serve by His Spirit.
You are already set apart. Now walk in that calling with confidence and joy.