January 31
Today’s Reading
Exodus 28
(High Priest Garments – God’s Design for Holiness & Intercession)
⸻
Scripture Focus
“Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful…”
Exodus 28:2 (NLT)
“Aaron will carry the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders… as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the Lord.”
Exodus 28:12 (NLT)
“Holy to the Lord.”
Exodus 28:36 (NLT)
“He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness.”
Isaiah 61:10
“We have a great High Priest… Jesus the Son of God… who always lives to intercede for us.”
Hebrews 4:14; 7:25
⸻
Reflection
God did not dress Aaron in something plain or ordinary.
He clothed him in garments that were glorious and beautiful.
In Hebrew, glorious (kavod) means full of weight, worth, and God’s presence.
And beautiful (tiferet) means radiance, splendor, holy beauty.
These garments were not about fashion — they were about identity and representation.
What Aaron wore showed who he belonged to and who he represented.
But here is what is amazing…
Aaron and his sons had to put on the garments themselves.
They had to stand there and be dressed.
With Jesus — it is completely different.
We did not clothe ourselves.
We did not earn the robe.
We did not weave the fabric.
Jesus did all the work.
Through His sacrifice and shed blood,
He clothed us with salvation and righteousness.
Aaron wore glory on the outside.
We are clothed with Christ on the inside.
⸻
Carried on the Shoulders & Over the Heart
God told Moses to engrave the names of the twelve tribes on two onyx stones and place them on Aaron’s shoulders.
So when Aaron entered God’s presence,
he did not go alone — he carried the people with him.
Then God placed twelve more stones on the breastpiece,
each engraved with a name, worn over his heart.
The people were:
•carried by strength (shoulders)
•carried by love (heart)
This is such a picture of Jesus.
We are not just forgiven.
We are carried.
Isaiah says:
“The government shall be upon His shoulders.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Our names are not written on stones —
they are written on His heart.
⸻
The Bells, the Fruit, and the Crown
Around the hem of the robe were pomegranates and bells.
The pomegranates represented fruit and life.
The bells represented sound and access into God’s presence.
God said if Aaron wore this, he would not die.
Then on his forehead was a golden plate that read:
“Holy to the Lord.”
Aaron wore it so he could bear the guilt of the people and they would be accepted by God.
Aaron bore guilt symbolically.
Jesus bore sin completely.
Aaron wore a gold plate.
Jesus wore a crown of thorns.
Because Jesus carried our guilt,
we now stand before God accepted, covered, and declared holy.
⸻
Lesson for Me
I am learning to stop striving to clothe myself with worth, approval, or spiritual performance.
Jesus has already clothed me with righteousness through His sacrifice.
My calling now is not to prove myself before God,
but to live from a place of being covered, carried, and accepted.
When I forget this, I start working for what has already been given.
When I remember this, I walk in peace, humility, and freedom.
⸻
Examine My Own Heart
•Am I living from what Christ has already done, or still striving to prove myself?
•Do I see myself as clothed in righteousness, or still defined by past failures?
•Am I trusting Jesus as my intercessor — or trying to carry myself?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Jesus, thank You for clothing me with salvation.
Thank You for carrying me on Your shoulders and holding me close to Your heart.
Thank You for bearing my guilt so I could be accepted.
Help me live today as one who is holy — not by performance, but by Your grace.
Let my life reflect the beauty and glory of the One who clothed me.
Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly with Jesus. Ask Him:
“Lord, what are You showing me about how You see me?”
Write what He places on your heart. Begin with:
“My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…” and listen.
Today’s Reading
Exodus 28
(High Priest Garments – God’s Design for Holiness & Intercession)
⸻
Scripture Focus
“Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful…”
Exodus 28:2 (NLT)
“Aaron will carry the names of the sons of Israel on his shoulders… as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the Lord.”
Exodus 28:12 (NLT)
“Holy to the Lord.”
Exodus 28:36 (NLT)
“He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness.”
Isaiah 61:10
“We have a great High Priest… Jesus the Son of God… who always lives to intercede for us.”
Hebrews 4:14; 7:25
⸻
Reflection
God did not dress Aaron in something plain or ordinary.
He clothed him in garments that were glorious and beautiful.
In Hebrew, glorious (kavod) means full of weight, worth, and God’s presence.
And beautiful (tiferet) means radiance, splendor, holy beauty.
These garments were not about fashion — they were about identity and representation.
What Aaron wore showed who he belonged to and who he represented.
But here is what is amazing…
Aaron and his sons had to put on the garments themselves.
They had to stand there and be dressed.
With Jesus — it is completely different.
We did not clothe ourselves.
We did not earn the robe.
We did not weave the fabric.
Jesus did all the work.
Through His sacrifice and shed blood,
He clothed us with salvation and righteousness.
Aaron wore glory on the outside.
We are clothed with Christ on the inside.
⸻
Carried on the Shoulders & Over the Heart
God told Moses to engrave the names of the twelve tribes on two onyx stones and place them on Aaron’s shoulders.
So when Aaron entered God’s presence,
he did not go alone — he carried the people with him.
Then God placed twelve more stones on the breastpiece,
each engraved with a name, worn over his heart.
The people were:
•carried by strength (shoulders)
•carried by love (heart)
This is such a picture of Jesus.
We are not just forgiven.
We are carried.
Isaiah says:
“The government shall be upon His shoulders.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Our names are not written on stones —
they are written on His heart.
⸻
The Bells, the Fruit, and the Crown
Around the hem of the robe were pomegranates and bells.
The pomegranates represented fruit and life.
The bells represented sound and access into God’s presence.
God said if Aaron wore this, he would not die.
Then on his forehead was a golden plate that read:
“Holy to the Lord.”
Aaron wore it so he could bear the guilt of the people and they would be accepted by God.
Aaron bore guilt symbolically.
Jesus bore sin completely.
Aaron wore a gold plate.
Jesus wore a crown of thorns.
Because Jesus carried our guilt,
we now stand before God accepted, covered, and declared holy.
⸻
Lesson for Me
I am learning to stop striving to clothe myself with worth, approval, or spiritual performance.
Jesus has already clothed me with righteousness through His sacrifice.
My calling now is not to prove myself before God,
but to live from a place of being covered, carried, and accepted.
When I forget this, I start working for what has already been given.
When I remember this, I walk in peace, humility, and freedom.
⸻
Examine My Own Heart
•Am I living from what Christ has already done, or still striving to prove myself?
•Do I see myself as clothed in righteousness, or still defined by past failures?
•Am I trusting Jesus as my intercessor — or trying to carry myself?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Jesus, thank You for clothing me with salvation.
Thank You for carrying me on Your shoulders and holding me close to Your heart.
Thank You for bearing my guilt so I could be accepted.
Help me live today as one who is holy — not by performance, but by Your grace.
Let my life reflect the beauty and glory of the One who clothed me.
Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly with Jesus. Ask Him:
“Lord, what are You showing me about how You see me?”
Write what He places on your heart. Begin with:
“My little lamb…” or “Dear daughter…” and listen.
Type your new text here.