Unblemished service

Dear brethren,

Today's readings

Leviticus 21-23; Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8:5
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Leviticus 21:17
Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
Leviticus 22:20
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

As Paul wrote in Rom 15:4 and 1Co 10:11, indeed there is much value in us even today to study the old testament. The one unmistakable thing is the fact that the pattern of God is to be respected and adhered to. Any departure from it always results in undesirable consequences.
Just as we have been reading from the book of leviticus, we see the detail and how God took the guesswork out from man. God's demand for detail remains today (Mal 3:6; Jam 1:17; Heb 13:8). It is up to follow His Plan and not be wise in our own sight (Rom 12:16).
It is interesting to note, even as we observe the patterns in the old testament, that both the priest and the offering are to be blemish free. Obviously, as the writer of Hebrews has been so painstakingly establishing thus far, the Aaronic priesthood had been done away. Yet we can't help but notice the pattern of concepts therein.
We are reminded by Peter that, as Christians we are the "royal priesthood" with Christ as our high priest (1Pe 2:5,9). The manner that we conduct ourselves and the quality of service to God remains an crucial aspect in our lives. God is not expecting us to be void of character flaws. God is not even expecting all of us to be serving at the same capacity. But God is expecting us to continually strive to better ourselves and to serve to our best ability individually and collectively.
God gave us His Son, doesn't that deserve our very best service?