Exodus 30:19-20a Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.
The priests are to wash their hands and feet in the brazen basin before they enter the tent of meeting or the Holy Place to serve the Lord. The washing of hands and feet is a symbolic representation of a reformed lifestyle.
We are the New Testament Priests. It is not enough to stop at the brazen altar that represents the cross, to confess our sins. The blood of Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin. Then, we must come to the brazen basin which represents the Word of God that will reform our actions. Everything we do (hands) and everywhere we go (feet) must please God.
At the brazen altar, the cross, our soul is renewed. Our heart, emotions and mind are cleansed by the blood that trickles from the cross. The blood washes our sins and shame and heals our sickness. Our soul is transformed by the blood of Jesus. Then, at the brazen basin/laver, the Word of God, our actions are reformed. The lifestyle of a priest should be constantly reformed by the Word of God. So washing our hands and feet, (a continual reformation of actions and motions), is absolutely essential.
Ceremonial Cleansing of the Priests:
1. Stop: The transformed heart must reflect as reformed actions. If the actions do not represent the conviction and conversion of our heart, we have stopped at the brazen altar and returned back into the world. The second stop after the brazen altar is the bronze basin.
2. Segregate: The blood and the water/(Word) segregate us from the rest of the world. If we are repeating the same sin and coming back to the cross everyday for forgiveness, then we have not allowed the Word to reform our actions.
3. Sanctify: The blood qualifies us to enter the tent of meeting to meet with the Lord and the Word sanctifies us and reforms us to walk with the Lord.
We, the Royal Priesthood, should live reformed lives in alignment with the Word of God.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, sanctify my hands and feet, my actions, decisions and my motions, to bring glory to your name. Amen.
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