“You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.” Numbers 18:5
The Levites were set apart to care for the sanctuary and altar. They were the only ones who could go before God to offer up the required sacrifices. During the Old Testament times, God would not just anyone to stand before Him. This was a great responsibility for the Levites, because what they did would be to prevent God destroying the rest of the Israelites.
When Jesus had died on the cross the veil that separated the people from God was ripped in two. The way was opened up for people to come directly before God. No longer does a person have to go to a Levite or some other priest in order to get to God.
Believers today are called priests. This makes you responsible for the sanctuary and the altar.
The apostle Paul also calls all believers “the temple of God”. The temple is the new testament sanctuary. It is where people meet with God. It is where God lives in a person.
Too often many people neglect this sanctuary. They stop praying and worshipping God. They allow sin to come in and defile it. They let the altar to fall in disrepair. They forget to offer the sacrifices of praise to God. They do not intercede for others.
Since you are a priest and you are also the temple, you are responsible for that sanctuary. Taking care of the sanctuary means keeping it clean and holy, ensuring the right sacrifices are offered at the right times, standing before God, ministering to God, and interceding for others.
You must care for God’s sanctuary. Jesus has called you to be a light and a witness in this world. Allow God to clean up your sanctuary and maintain it correctly.
Daily take a broom and sweep out the dust in your sanctuary. Keep the oil of the Holy Spirit burning in the lampstand of your sanctuary. Be responsible for His sanctuary in you.
In this way, you may prevent God’s wrath from coming down upon those around you. You will be a witness of God’s love and salvation He provides to every person.
I pray today that you will allow your life to be a sanctuary for God to dwell in; that you will allow God to cleanse your life from all sin; that you will intercede to God for others; and that you will offer the sacrifices of prayer and praise to God.
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