And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them. Exodus 19:22
Mount Sinai was a terrifying place! Huge clouds of enveloping smoke covered that great summit, and the very ground shook and vibrated with earthquakes. Flashes of lightning and breathtaking crashes of thunder continued hour after hour. Most of the children of Israel feared to look at it, left alone come close to it. But there was a a stern warning that death could occur if they did approach too close. Among that great throng, there were some people who could safely come close, and there were two requirements: they had to be priests, and they had to be sanctified. God has the same two qualifications for those who would approach Him today.
Are you a priest? If you are saved, have trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, the answer is a clear yes. That means you can draw near to your Lord. There are no restricted times, no ‘open’ hours that our God keeps. That means coming near to the Lord at any time, with no lineup of ‘more important people’ ahead of you in the queue. God is not only our Lord but also our Father, and He takes great delight when His children draw near to Him in simple, trusting faith.
The priests of Israel had ceremonies, washings, and anointing they had to go through to prepare for coming near to the Lord. Let us remember that the same Lord to Who we come as believer priests must never be approached carelessly or in a frivolous way. Our hearts must come in submission to His Lordship and to His deity. We must also come near to the Lord without sin in our heart or our hand. If we come to Him in obedience, He welcomes us near. If we come in disobedience, we will meet His displeasure.
Sanctify yourself today and come near to the Lord. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/yZ1OrodXTeY