Brethren, as we are called to be part of the priesthood under Jesus Christ, our High Priest, it is imperative that we prepare for this significant responsibility. Since we are in Christ, we are already part of His priesthood, and His work becomes our work. We are united with Him, going wherever He goes, not just in the present but into eternity. This calling requires us to align our character and actions with what God expects of a priest working directly under Jesus Christ from the time of His return. Priesthood is a subject woven deeply into the biblical narrative and is to be a major part of our future. Therefore, some characteristics of priesthood need to be part of our present responsibilities. We must take a closer look at what the Bible reveals about the progressive development of priesthood, which begins simply and becomes more complex as it moves along God's pattern. Our preparation involves understanding that we are disciples, learners, and pupils of Christ, adhering to a movement that will culminate in us being priests of the Most High God. As part of the temple that is central to the worship of God, with Jesus Christ as the Head, we are spiritual Jews in Him. Between now and the resurrection, we must get prepared to help carry out the responsibilities Christ will have in the Millennium, when He will be the dynamic force for the salvation of the Israelitish people and beyond, encompassing the whole earth. We are to develop the family and character traits necessary to perform these responsibilities as heirs with Jesus Christ. The Bible shows that priesthood initially involved individuals acting as priests for themselves or their families, expanding to represent the nation, and ultimately for the church, with Jesus Christ as the last and ultimate High Priest. We must strive to embody the qualities that enable us to mirror the character and attitude expected of priests, understanding that while our gifting may differ, our unity in Christ and shared purpose remain paramount. Therefore, let us commit to preparing ourselves now, ensuring our lives reflect the standards God has set for those who will serve Him in this sacred role.

The priesthood, as a vital institution, carries profound responsibilities and demands a high level of holiness, reflecting God's own nature. Priests serve as living messengers, reminding the entire nation and church of the call to be holy as God is holy. Under the Old Covenant, priests and Levites were visible and audible links between God's initial call to holiness and its fulfillment in His Kingdom. Now, under the New Covenant, all believers are forming a priesthood, serving as priests to each other under our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, with the same purpose of reflecting holiness in intimate association with the Father, the Son, and one another. Holiness is central to the priestly role, extending beyond mere morality to embody God's uniqueness and purity. Priests are called to strive for moral holiness, though they will never fully attain God's level of holiness in this life. Their role as intermediaries between God and the people required them to provide religious instruction and live as examples, ensuring the community understood the importance of holiness. This responsibility is heightened for believers today, who possess the Spirit of God, demanding a higher standard than those under the Old Covenant. The preparation for priesthood began with specific appointments, as seen when God designated Aaron as high priest and his sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—as priests, establishing a structured order to organize Israel as a holy nation. These appointments were not self-initiated but divinely ordained, emphasizing that priests act on behalf of men before God, bridging the separation caused by human sinfulness. Strict standards governed their conduct and physical condition; any physical disfigurement or deformity disqualified a priest from service until healed, reflecting the perfection of God whom they represented. Further regulations ensured ceremonial purity, prohibiting priests from serving if rendered unclean by circumstances such as touching the dead, which symbolized defilement linked to sin and death, enemies of a living God. Priests were also forbidden from imitating pagan practices, maintaining distinctiveness in appearance and behavior to uphold God's holiness. Marriage within specific family lines was mandated to preserve the purity of the priestly lineage. These stringent requirements highlight the carefulness with which priests had to conduct their lives, handling holy things and leading in holiness. Incidents like the severe judgment on Nadab and Abihu for using unauthorized fire in their offerings underscore the importance of exact obedience to God's instructions, with no deviations allowed. Their presumptuous act, possibly influenced by alcohol, contrasted with the need for a clear mind in sacred duties, a principle relevant to all called to be a kingdom of priests. Every aspect of priestly service, from unblemished animal offerings to the perfection required of the priests themselves, pointed to the ultimate model of holiness in Jesus Christ, who remains perfect as our representative before God. The priestly life was surrounded by restrictions designed to maintain a state of holiness, a burden that underscores the high level of conduct and attitude God expects from all believers today. These Old Testament examples were deliberately recorded for our learning, urging us to strive for the highest standards of holiness before God, the world, and the church, keeping ourselves distinct and righteous in a world that often resists such boundaries.