Leah Ramirez

I can’t stop thinking about something Chris said Sunday.

The high priest did not enter the holy place carrying a list of Israel’s sins.

He carried their names.

Their names were on his shoulders and over his heart.

That is priesthood.

It is very easy to see what is wrong with people. It is easy to name failure, expose weakness, identify sin, and point to what is broken.

But priesthood asks a deeper question.

Who did God name them to be?

What are they carrying that has been buried under pain, sin, disappointment, or accusation?

What is heaven restoring?

We are living in a time where accusation is everywhere. It is in the culture. It is in the Church. It is in our feeds. It is often dressed up as discernment.

But discernment without love becomes accusation.

And accuracy without priesthood can still miss the heart of Christ.

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. He saw it before it happened. And He did not say, “Peter, you’re disqualified.”

He said, “I have prayed for you.”

That sentence is undoing me.

Jesus saw the failure, but He carried the man.

He saw the denial, but He still saw the calling.

I want to be formed there.

I want to learn how to carry names, not accusations.

I want to be part of a people who can tell the truth without losing the heart of restoration.

Because the goal is not exposure.

The goal is redemption.