Scripture
‘Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. ‘ Hebrews 5:1-4 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.5.1-4
Observation
The high priest was chosen from among the people–he was not better than them, but equal with them. The only difference was the nature of his responsibility. He was not chosen because of perfection, but rather his imperfection made him specifically qualified to ‘deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray’. The honor of being appointed high priest was not a privilege to be pursued and grasped at, but a calling to be honorably fulfilled.
Application
This passage gives me tremendous hope in every aspect of my life–that God has not chosen me because He expects me to be perfect, but rather that He has chosen me to surrender my faults and flaws to Him, to be used for His glory, and for the benefit and growth of His body. I shouldn’t ignore or excuse my flaws, but rather let them inspire me to be more gentle, more understanding, and more caring in the way that I deal with others. A Christ-like attitude toward my own flaws is to keep them in mind enough to stay humble, but not in the forefront of my mind as a discouragement and hindrance from the calling of God. My heavenly father knows all of my flaws, and He loves me anyway. I need to demonstrate that same love toward others, even when their flaws become clearly visible.
Prayer
God, help me to see myself with a Christlike attitude. Not with an arrogant denial of my own imperfections, nor yet with a self-absorbed depression about my faults–but rather with a humble awareness of my own humanity, which would cause me to love others the way that You have loved me.