We notice in Leviticus 7:88And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered. (Leviticus 7:8) that “the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.” Here in 1 Peter 2 we have both the holy and the royal priesthood, given to us. The believer is first so occupied with the burnt offering—with Christ in the presence of God as wholly offered up to Him, that he can come out in a new way to man. I go to a meeting, and my heart delights in what Christ is to God. What have I as the result of this? I have the skin—the outside color, the beauty of the animal. Just as Moses came down from the mountain and his face shone, so I have come near God, delighting in what Christ is to Him; now I come down to man and I have the skin.
It is not because of my devotedness, nor is it by service that I acquire the skin. It is priesthood; it is because of being occupied with Christ before God. It is that blessedness which is known to the soul only when it is entranced with the beauty of Christ. Then I get some of it; I get the skin — the beauty of the precious One in whom God delights. Just as children who love their parents tend to do things as they do, so I have got so near to that blessed One that I have caught something of His likeness. Now I can come out to show forth the virtues of Him who hath called me out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Food for the Flock, Vol. 6 (adapted)