Wednesday, 12th August 2026
Rex Xi An Poon
主題經文「我要住在以色列人中間，作他們的神。他們必知道我是耶和華——他們的神，是將他們從埃及地領出來的，為要住在他們中間。我是耶和華——他們的神。」——出埃及記29:45–46
出埃及記第29章記載亞倫和他的兒子承接祭司聖職的過程。神已經揀選亞倫和他的後代，使他們世世代代承擔祭司的職分。可是，有祭司的身分，並不代表他們可以隨意來到神面前；蒙神揀選，也不代表他們可以按照自己的方法服侍神。他們要預備祭牲，在會幕門口用水洗身，穿上聖衣，接受膏抹，又要獻上贖罪祭、燔祭和承接聖職之祭。整個承接聖職的過程更要持續七天。
這讓我們看見，祭司的身分雖然是神所賜的恩典，但祭司的生命仍然需要被潔淨、被分別，按照神所指定的方法親近祂。
今天，因着耶穌基督的救贖，我們已經成為神的兒女，也是「有君尊的祭司」。然而，有了這個身分，是否就代表我們真正親近神？我們可能已經信主多年，也參與聚會和服侍，但心裏仍然感覺與神有距離。我們渴望進入神的同在，卻可能仍然堅持自己的想法，用世界的價值和自己喜歡的方法來到神面前。
出埃及記第29章不只是講一套古老的祭司禮儀，更讓我們思想一個與每位信徒都息息相關的問題：我們應當如何真正親近神？
出埃及記第29章讓我們看見，真正親近神，不是只有蒙揀選的身分，而是接受祂的潔淨，把整個生命歸給祂，天天活在祂的同在中。
一、親近神，不是只有身分，更需要祂的潔淨
「要使亞倫和他兒子到會幕門口來，用水洗身。」——出埃及記29:4
亞倫和他的兒子成為祭司，不是因為他們比別人更完全，也不是因為他們靠自己的努力取得這個位置，而是因為神主動揀選了他們。然而，蒙揀選只是開始。他們雖然已經擁有祭司的身分，仍然不能隨意進入聖所。他們要在會幕門口用水洗身，穿上神所指定的聖衣，接受膏油的澆灌，並且獻上贖罪祭。公牛犢被獻作贖罪祭，說明祭司本身也是罪人，也需要贖罪和潔淨。祭司的身分並沒有使他們自動成為完全，也沒有使他們可以忽略神的聖潔。
同樣，今天我們因着耶穌基督，已經成為「被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民」。這是神所賜的恩典，不是我們靠行為換取的資格。然而，我們不能只停留在「我已經信主」「我已經得救」「我是神的兒女」這個身分上，卻拒絕讓神繼續潔淨和改變我們。
我們可能有基督徒的身分，卻仍然容讓嫉妒、苦毒、驕傲、情慾和不饒恕留在心裏；我們可能參與服侍，卻沒有讓神觸摸自己隱藏的生命；我們可能渴望神的同在，卻不願意放下那些攔阻我們親近祂的事情。
我們必須記得這個屬靈次序：不是我們先潔淨自己，然後換取神的揀選；而是神先揀選我們，再藉着祂的恩典潔淨和更新我們。恩典不是取消聖潔，而是把我們帶進聖潔。真正親近神，是願意來到祂面前，讓祂的光照進生命中，潔淨我們仍未交託給祂的地方。
二、親近神，不是照自己的方法，而是把全人歸給祂
「你要宰這羊，取點血抹在亞倫的右耳垂上和他兒子的右耳垂上，又抹在他們右手的大拇指上和右腳的大拇指上。」——出埃及記29:20
承接聖職的禮儀中，第二隻公綿羊的血要抹在亞倫和他兒子的右耳垂、右手大拇指和右腳大拇指上。這是承接聖職之祭的重要部分，表明祭司藉着祭牲的血，被完全分別出來歸給神。
耳朵、手和腳代表祭司整個人的生活：
- 耳朵要聆聽神的聲音；
- 雙手要遵行神的旨意；
- 雙腳要行走在神的道路中。
第一隻公綿羊則要全然焚燒在壇上作燔祭，象徵整個生命完全獻給神。祭司不是只把一部分時間交給神，也不是只在會幕中才屬於神；他的整個生命都要歸神使用。
今天，我們也可能很想親近神，卻仍然按照自己的方法生活。
我們願意聽神安慰的話，卻不願意聽神責備和糾正的話；我們願意用雙手做自己喜歡的服侍，卻未必願意承擔神真正交託的事情；我們渴望神帶領前路，卻又堅持要神祝福自己所選擇的方向。真正親近神，不是要求神接受我們的方法，而是讓我們的生命降服在祂的主權下。
我們不能一方面渴望進入神的同在，另一方面卻仍然堅持世界的價值和自己的想法；也不能只把外面的宗教行為獻給神，卻保留內心最重要的部分，不讓祂管理。
因此，我們需要問自己：
- 我的耳朵正在聆聽誰的聲音？
- 我的雙手正在成就誰的心意？
- 我的雙腳正在走誰所選擇的道路？
神不是只要我們星期日的敬拜，也不是只要我們服侍時的表現；祂所要的是我們整個人。真正的親近，是把自己的思想、感情、關係、計劃和前途，都重新交在神手中。
三、親近神，不是一次的經歷，而是天天活在祂的同在中
「這羊羔要每日兩隻，常獻給耶和華。」——出埃及記29:38
亞倫和他的兒子承接聖職的禮儀完成之後，神吩咐祭司每天獻上兩隻一歲的羊羔，一隻在早晨獻上，另一隻在黃昏獻上。這是「常獻的燔祭」。這表明以色列人與神的關係，不是只建立在一次盛大的奉獻儀式上，而是每天持續不斷地敬拜神、親近神。
我們也可能曾經在一次聚會、禱告或特會中深深經歷神，甚至曾經流淚、悔改和重新獻上自己。但是，真正親近神，不只是一次感動的經歷，而是每天持續的關係。
昨天的經歷不能代替今天的親近；過去的奉獻也不能代替今天的順服。每天早晨，我們再次把生命獻給神；每天晚上，我們再次回到祂面前。無論有沒有特別的感覺，無論環境順利或困難，我們仍然選擇敬拜祂、聆聽祂、順服祂。
可是，為甚麼神要設立祭司、預備祭牲，又吩咐百姓每天獻祭？
本章最後給了我們答案：「我要住在以色列人中間，作他們的神。」——出埃及記29:45
原來，神設立這一切，不是要故意設下重重限制，使人難以接近祂；相反，是聖潔的神主動為有罪的人預備一條可以親近祂的道路。從出埃及記開始，主動的從來都是神。
不是以色列人先設計一條救贖自己的道路，而是神聽見他們在埃及的哀聲，記念祂的約，親自下來拯救他們。神降下十災，帶領他們越過紅海，在曠野供應食物和水，又把他們帶到西奈山與自己立約。
現在，神更吩咐建造會幕、設立祭司和預備獻祭的道路。這一切都出於祂主動的愛。
這讓我們想到父母對孩子的愛。孩子出生以前，沒有要求父母孕育他，也沒有承諾將來一定會報答父母。是父母先愛他，主動為他預備、犧牲、照顧和付出。孩子長大以後，未必完全明白父母的心；有時甚至會離開父母所期望的道路，不懂得感恩，使父母傷心。但是，父母心裏對孩子的愛，往往仍然不會因此消失。
人的愛仍然有限，也會軟弱和受傷；但父母對孩子主動的愛，讓我們稍微體會神的心。
不是我們先尋找神，而是神先尋找我們；不是我們先愛神，而是神先愛我們。祂主動救贖我們，不只是要把我們從罪惡中帶出來，更是要把我們帶到祂面前，使我們可以活在祂的同在中。舊約的祭司需要不斷獻祭，但耶穌基督把自己一次獻上，成為完全的贖罪祭，也成為我們永遠的大祭司。
今天，我們能夠親近神，不是因為自己的表現足夠好，而是因為耶穌基督已經為我們開了一條又新又活的道路。
出埃及記第29章讓我們看見，亞倫和他的兒子雖然已經蒙神揀選，擁有祭司的身分，卻不能隨意來到神面前。他們需要接受潔淨，按照神所指定的方法，把整個生命分別出來歸給神，並且每天持續獻祭，活在神的同在中。
今天，我們也是因着耶穌基督蒙神揀選、被神救贖，成為有君尊的祭司。但是，真正親近神，不是只有一個屬靈身分，也不只是參與一些宗教活動。
真正親近神，就是：接受祂的潔淨，把全人歸給祂，天天活在祂的同在中。
神潔淨我們，不是要把我們推遠；祂指出我們生命中的問題，也不是因為祂不再愛我們。正因為祂愛我們，渴望住在我們中間，所以祂要除去一切攔阻，使我們可以更深地親近祂。
神把以色列人領出埃及，不只是要他們離開奴役，更是要他們來到祂面前。耶穌基督救贖我們，也不只是使我們將來可以進入天國，更是使我們今天就能與神同行，活在祂的同在中。
所以，今天我們不要只問：「我是否已經蒙神揀選？」更要問：我是否願意讓神潔淨我，把整個生命交給祂，天天真正地親近祂？
省察
- 我的生命中，有哪些地方仍然不願意讓神潔淨和改變？
- 我的耳朵、雙手和雙腳，是否真正歸神使用，還是仍然按照自己的想法和世界的價值生活？
- 我與神的關係，是停留在過去一次的屬靈經歷，還是每天持續親近祂、順服祂？
禱告
親愛的天父，我感謝祢，因為不是我先尋找祢，而是祢先尋找了我；不是我先愛祢，而是祢先愛了我。
當我還在罪中的時候，祢已經差遣耶穌基督為我捨命，為我預備一條可以親近祢的道路。祢救贖我，不只是要把我從罪惡中帶出來，更是要使我回到祢面前，天天活在祢的同在中。
主啊，求祢赦免我。很多時候，我只看重自己基督徒的身分，卻沒有活出分別為聖的生命；我渴望親近祢，卻仍然堅持自己的方法，不願意讓祢管理我的全部生命。
求祢潔淨我的耳朵，使我聆聽祢的聲音；潔淨我的雙手，使我遵行祢的旨意；潔淨我的雙腳，使我行走在祢的道路中。
求祢幫助我，不只在某一次聚會或禱告中經歷祢，更讓我每天早晨和晚上都回到祢面前，把自己重新獻上。
主啊，我願意把自己的思想、感情、關係、計劃和前途都交在祢手中。求祢除去一切攔阻我親近祢的事情，使我不只擁有屬祢的身分，也真正活出與這身分相稱的生命。
願祢住在我們中間，作我們的神；也願我們一生作祢聖潔、忠心的百姓。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Theme Scripture
“I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” —Exodus 29:45–46, NKJV
Introduction
Exodus 29 describes how Aaron and his sons were consecrated to serve as priests.
God had already chosen Aaron and his descendants to serve as priests from generation to generation. However, having the identity of a priest did not mean that they could come into God’s presence in any way they wished. Being chosen by God did not mean that they could serve Him according to their own ideas.
They had to prepare the sacrifices, wash themselves at the entrance of the tabernacle, put on the holy garments, receive the anointing oil, and offer the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the consecration offering. The whole process of consecration continued for seven days.
This shows us that although the priestly identity was given by God’s grace, the priests still needed to be cleansed, consecrated, and prepared to approach God in the way He had appointed.
Today, through the salvation of Jesus Christ, we have become children of God and members of His “royal priesthood.” But does having this identity automatically mean that we are truly close to God?
We may have believed in Jesus for many years. We may attend church and take part in ministry, yet still feel distant from God. We desire to enter His presence, but at the same time, we may continue to hold on to our own ideas and approach Him according to the values of the world.
Exodus 29 is not merely about an ancient ceremony for priests. It invites every believer to consider a very personal question:
How can we truly draw near to God?
Exodus 29 shows us that truly drawing near to God requires more than having a chosen identity. We must receive His cleansing, surrender our whole lives to Him, and live daily in His presence.
- Drawing Near to God Requires More Than an Identity; We Need His Cleansing
“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water.” —Exodus 29:4, NKJV
Aaron and his sons did not become priests because they were more perfect than everyone else. Neither did they earn this position through their own efforts. They became priests because God had chosen them.
However, being chosen was only the beginning.
Although they already had the identity of priests, they could not enter the holy place in any way they wished. They had to wash themselves at the entrance of the tabernacle, put on the garments appointed by God, receive the anointing oil, and offer a sin offering.
The young bull was offered as a sin offering. This showed that the priests were also sinners who needed forgiveness and cleansing. Their priestly identity did not make them automatically perfect, nor did it allow them to ignore the holiness of God.
In the same way, through Jesus Christ, we have become “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.” This identity is a gift of God’s grace. It is not something we have earned through our good works.
However, we cannot remain satisfied simply by saying, “I am a Christian,” “I am saved,” or “I am a child of God,” while refusing to let God continue to cleanse and transform us.
We may have the identity of a Christian but still allow jealousy, bitterness, pride, lust, and unforgiveness to remain in our hearts. We may take part in ministry but refuse to let God touch the hidden areas of our lives. We may desire God’s presence but remain unwilling to release the things that keep us from drawing near to Him.
We must remember this spiritual order:
We are not cleansed first in order to earn God’s choice. God chooses us by grace, and then His grace cleanses and transforms us.
Grace does not remove the need for holiness. Grace leads us into holiness.
To draw near to God is to come before Him willingly, allowing His light to shine into our lives and cleanse every area that we have not yet surrendered to Him.
- Drawing Near to God Is Not According to Our Own Way; We Must Surrender Our Whole Lives to Him
“Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot.” —Exodus 29:20, NKJV
During the consecration ceremony, the blood of the second ram was placed on the tip of the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe of Aaron and his sons.
This was an important part of their consecration. It showed that through the blood of the sacrifice, the priests were completely set apart for God.
The ear, the hand, and the foot represented the whole life of the priest:
- His ears were to listen to God’s voice.
- His hands were to carry out God’s will.
- His feet were to walk in God’s ways.
The first ram was completely burned on the altar as a burnt offering. It represented a life completely offered to God.
The priest did not give God only part of his time. Neither did he belong to God only while serving inside the tabernacle. His whole life belonged to God.
Today, we may sincerely desire to draw near to God, yet still insist on living according to our own way.
We are willing to hear God’s words of comfort, but we may not want to hear His correction. We may be willing to serve in the way we enjoy, but not necessarily willing to carry the responsibility God has entrusted to us. We may ask God to guide our future while still expecting Him to bless the direction we have already chosen.
Truly drawing near to God is not asking God to accept our way. It is allowing our lives to come under His authority.
We cannot desire God’s presence while continuing to hold on to the values of the world and our own opinions. Neither can we offer God our outward religious activities while keeping the most important areas of our hearts away from Him.
Therefore, we need to ask ourselves:
- Whose voice are my ears listening to?
- Whose purpose are my hands carrying out?
- Whose chosen path are my feet following?
God does not want only our Sunday worship. He does not want only our performance in ministry. He wants our whole lives.
To draw near to God is to place our thoughts, emotions, relationships, plans, and future into His hands.
- Drawing Near to God Is Not a One-Time Experience; It Is Living Daily in His Presence
“Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually.” —Exodus 29:38, NKJV
After Aaron and his sons had completed their consecration, God commanded the priests to offer two one-year-old lambs every day. One was to be offered in the morning and the other in the evening.
This was the continual burnt offering.
It showed that Israel’s relationship with God was not based only on one great ceremony of dedication. They were to worship God and draw near to Him continually, day after day.
We may also have experienced God deeply during a particular church service, prayer meeting, or conference. We may have wept, repented, and offered ourselves to Him again.
However, truly drawing near to God is not only about one powerful spiritual experience. It is a daily relationship.
Yesterday’s experience cannot replace today’s relationship with God. Our dedication in the past cannot replace our obedience today.
Every morning, we offer our lives to God again. Every evening, we return to His presence. Whether or not we feel something special, and whether our circumstances are easy or difficult, we continue to worship Him, listen to Him, and obey Him.
But why did God establish the priesthood, prepare the sacrifices, and command His people to offer sacrifices every day?
The answer is found at the end of the chapter:
“I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.” —Exodus 29:45, NKJV
God did not establish these requirements to make it difficult for people to approach Him. Instead, the holy God was preparing a way for sinful people to draw near to Him.
From the beginning of Exodus, God has always been the One who acts first.
The Israelites did not create their own way of salvation. God heard their cries in Egypt, remembered His covenant, and came down to deliver them. He sent the ten plagues, brought them through the Red Sea, provided food and water in the wilderness, and brought them to Mount Sinai to enter into covenant with Him.
Now God instructed them to build the tabernacle, established the priesthood, and prepared the way of sacrifice. All of this came from His initiating love.
This reminds us of the love of parents for their children.
Before a child is born, the child does not ask the parents to bring him into the world. Neither does the child promise that he will repay them in the future. The parents love the child first. They prepare for him, sacrifice for him, care for him, and give to him.
As the child grows, he may not fully understand the hearts of his parents. Sometimes he may even turn away from the path they hoped he would follow. He may be ungrateful and cause them pain. Yet the love in the parents’ hearts often remains.
Human love is limited. Parents can become weak, disappointed, and deeply hurt. Yet their initiating love for their children gives us a small picture of the heart of God.
We did not seek God first; He sought us first. We did not love God first; He first loved us.
God did not rescue us only to bring us out of sin. He rescued us to bring us to Himself so that we could live in His presence.
The Old Testament priests had to offer sacrifices continually. But Jesus Christ offered Himself once for all. He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins and our eternal High Priest.
Today, we can draw near to God, not because our performance is good enough, but because Jesus Christ has opened a new and living way for us.
Conclusion
Exodus 29 shows us that although Aaron and his sons had already been chosen by God and given the identity of priests, they could not approach God in any way they wished.
They needed to receive cleansing, come to God according to His appointed way, surrender their whole lives to Him, and continue to live daily in His presence.
Today, through Jesus Christ, we have also been chosen and redeemed by God, and we have become a royal priesthood. However, truly drawing near to God is more than having a spiritual identity or taking part in religious activities.
To truly draw near to God means:
Receiving His cleansing, surrendering our whole lives to Him, and living daily in His presence.
God does not cleanse us in order to push us away. When He reveals the problems in our lives, it does not mean that He has stopped loving us. He cleanses us because He loves us and desires to dwell among us. He wants to remove everything that prevents us from drawing closer to Him.
God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, not only to free them from slavery, but also to bring them to Himself. In the same way, Jesus Christ did not save us only so that we could enter heaven one day. He saved us so that we can walk with God and live in His presence today.
Therefore, let us not only ask, “Have I been chosen by God?”
Let us also ask:
Am I willing to let God cleanse me, surrender my whole life to Him, and truly draw near to Him every day?
Reflection
- Which areas of my life am I still unwilling to let God cleanse and transform?
- Do my ears, hands, and feet truly belong to God, or am I still living according to my own ideas and the values of the world?
- Is my relationship with God based only on a past spiritual experience, or am I continuing to draw near to Him and obey Him every day?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You because I did not seek You first; You sought me first. I did not love You first; You loved me first.
While I was still in sin, You sent Jesus Christ to give His life for me and prepare a way for me to draw near to You. You did not rescue me only to bring me out of sin. You rescued me so that I could return to You and live daily in Your presence.
Lord, please forgive me. Many times, I have valued my identity as a Christian but have not lived a life that is set apart for You. I have desired to draw near to You while still insisting on my own way and refusing to let You rule over every part of my life.
Please cleanse my ears so that I may hear Your voice. Cleanse my hands so that I may carry out Your will. Cleanse my feet so that I may walk in Your ways.
Help me not only to experience You during a particular church service or prayer meeting. Teach me to return to You every morning and every evening and offer myself to You again.
Lord, I place my thoughts, emotions, relationships, plans, and future into Your hands. Remove everything that prevents me from drawing near to You. Help me not only to have the identity of belonging to You but also to live a life that is worthy of Your calling.
Dwell among us and be our God. May we be Your holy and faithful people throughout our lives.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
Leave a comment