Wearing Excellence
Read This Week: Exodus 28
Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. – Exodus 28:2-4 NIV
This chapter focuses on the high priest’s garments, specifically Aaron and his descendants, who were set apart to serve in the Tabernacle. Though ancient in context, Exodus 28 contains timeless lessons that are both spiritual and practical. Verse 2 says, Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. These garments were not just ceremonial attire; they symbolized the weight and dignity of Aaron’s role as a mediator between God and His people. Each piece of clothing had a specific purpose and meaning:
• The Ephod: A crafted apron-like garment made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It bore two onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel’s twelve tribes for the priest to represent the people before God.
• The Breast Piece of Judgment: A square pouch with twelve precious stones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel. This highlighted the priest’s responsibility to seek God and carry the nation’s needs before Him.
• The Robe, Tunic, and Turban: These items reflected holiness and set the priest apart, emphasizing the sanctity required in God’s service.
The meticulous design of the garments underscores the holiness of God. Approaching Him requires intentionality, preparation, and reverence. The high priest served as a mediator, foreshadowing the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16). Just as Aaron bore the names of Israel on his shoulders and over his heart, Jesus carries His people, interceding for them in the heavenly sanctuary.
For us, this serves as a reminder of the importance of holiness in our relationship with God. While Old Testament ceremonial laws no longer bind us, the principles of reverence, dedication, and intentionality in our worship remain crucial. The names of the twelve tribes engraved on the ephod and breast piece symbolize unity and collective identity. Aaron’s role was not about personal glory but about representing the entire community before God. This principle of shared responsibility is as relevant today as it was then. In a world often marked by individualism, this challenges us to consider how our actions impact our communities and how we can carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
The craftsmanship described is nothing short of extraordinary. Skilled artisans were tasked with creating the garments using the finest materials. This reflects the principle that serving God requires our best—not out of obligation but out of love and gratitude. In our modern context, this might translate to offering our best efforts in whatever roles we play, whether in ministry, work, or family life. Excellence honors God and inspires others.
While this chapter highlights the separation between God and His people, it also points to His desire to dwell among them. The elaborate preparation for entering His presence underscores the value of that privilege. Through Christ, the barrier has been removed, granting all believers direct access to God (Ephesians 2:18). This accessibility invites us to approach God with confidence, bringing our prayers, struggles, and joys before Him. At the same time, it challenges us to never take this privilege for granted.
This passage teaches us to intentionally cultivate holiness in our lives and reflect on areas of our journey where we can grow in reverence and dedication to God. As we grow, we embrace unity and seek ways to support and represent our community, remembering that faith is not a solo journey. This understanding also alerts us to strive for excellence in our work, relationships, and worship and aim to offer our best as an act of devotion. As we actively pursue a wholehearted approach to life and worship, we will cherish God’s presence and regularly spend time in prayer and Scripture, nurturing our relationship with God.
As we reflect on the symbolism of the high priest’s attire in this passage, we are called to wear excellence with dignity and honor and lead lives that honor God, serve others, and celebrate the privilege of His presence. May this chapter encourage us to approach our sacred or secular roles with the same intentionality and quality that God’s service calls for.
Exodus Chapter 28 Verse 1
From among the Israelites, take your brother Aaron and his sons with him, that he may minister to Me in the priest’s office, even. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
Exodus Chapter 28 Verse 43
And they shall be on Aaron and his sons when they go into the Tent of Meeting or when they come near to the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bring iniquity upon themselves and die; it shall be a statute forever to Aaron and to his descendants after him.
~I Have Called You~
God Is Saying To Me:
My child, I have set you apart for service. I have called you to live a holy and righteous life of dedication to Me. I have called you to intercede for others by bringing their needs to Me in prayer. I have called you to seek my will and your decision making and to trust Me with My guidance. I have called you to align your faith and actions with integrity and accountability. I have called you to dedicate every aspect of your life to my service. Will you be Holy to the Lord, me?
What This Means To Me:
1. Live a life set apart for God’s purposes reflecting
His Holiness in all that you do.
2. Spend time praying for the needs of others, lifting
them up before God.
3. Pray for wisdom and discernment in your
decisions, trusting in God’s perfect will.
4. Live transparent with integrity. Making sure that
your actions align with your faith.
5. Offer yourself anew to God everyday, dedicating
every aspect of your life to His service and glory.
What are you wearing today—not physically, but spiritually? As Christians, we are called to be clothed in Christ, putting on His righteousness, compassion, humility, and love. Our spiritual garments reflect who we belong to and how we represent Him to the world. Are you dressed to reflect His glory? Let us embrace the identity He has given us and walk in the beauty of His grace and truth every day.
For me, this means learning to put off my old nature—the selfish attitudes, prideful tendencies, and impatience that once defined me. Instead, I’m choosing to operate in my new nature, asking God to shape me into someone who loves selflessly, forgives freely, and serves others with joy. It’s a daily process, but as I let go of the old, I’m discovering the freedom and beauty of living fully clothed in Christ’s character.
1. Holiness in Identity: Just as the priestly garments were designed to reflect God’s holiness, we are called to live as His set-apart people, clothed in righteousness and walking in purity before Him.
2. Representation of Christ: The high priest carried the names of Israel over his heart; likewise, we are representatives of Christ, called to carry His love and truth to others in every aspect of our lives.
3. Glory and Beauty in Service: The priestly garments were made for “glory and beauty,” reminding us that our lives, when clothed in Christ, should reflect the beauty of His character and bring glory to God in all we do.
Let us daily choose to wear the garments of our new nature, walking in the fullness of who Christ has called us to be!
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This Week in the Life: Exodus 28
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In Exodus 28:1, God commands Moses, “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons, so they may serve me as priests.” Aaron and his sons were chosen to minister before God and represent the people. The high priest carried the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on his garments—on the ephod and the breastpiece—symbolizing his responsibility to bear their burdens and intercede for them before God.
This priestly role was a direct foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest. Just as Aaron carried the weight of Israel on his shoulders, Jesus carried the full weight of our sin, pain, and burdens to the cross.
Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering… the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Jesus didn’t just carry the guilt of a nation—He bore the sins of the entire world. Through His sacrifice, He fulfilled the role of the perfect mediator between God and humanity.
Because of Christ’s love and sacrifice, we are called to follow His example by carrying the burdens of others.
Galatians 6:2 instructs us, “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This “law of Christ” is the law of Christian love—the sacrificial love that Jesus demonstrated for us.
Just as the high priest interceded for Israel, we are now called to intercede and pray for those around us. This means lifting up others in prayer, offering encouragement, and standing in the gap for those who are struggling. We don’t carry their burdens alone, but we partner with Jesus, trusting Him to bring healing and restoration.
Though we no longer offer animal sacrifices, we are called to present our lives as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (
Romans 12:1). This involves making daily choices that honor God, responding to His promptings, and living a life marked by love, compassion, and intercession.
Jesus has already carried the ultimate burden for us, and now He invites us to join Him in carrying the burdens of others—not in our own strength, but through His love and power working in us.