With a new year, it is good to be reminded of permanence. Many
will make new resolutions about life at this time, but God has
already set His mind on us in way that will not change. He has
called us a “kingdom of priests” (Rev. 1:6) and a “royal priesthood”
(1 Pet. 2:9). What does this mean? In this hour God is emphasizing
our priestly role before Him. There are four main aspects in being
God’s priests.
1. Ministry to the Lord. Our primary role as a priest is to adore
God, gaze at Him (Eph. 1:17; Ps. 27:4; Rev. 4:4, 10-11), draw near to
and minister to Him because He is worthy! (2 Chron. 29:11; Ezek.
44:15; James 4:8). To minister to Him properly, we must respond
back to His love by doing the 1st commandment (Mat. 22:37).
2. Intercession. Jesus is THE great intercessor (Heb. 7,:24-25). We
also are seated in heavenly places with Him (Heb. 8:1; Eph. 1:20).
What are we doing there? Interceding with words of agreegment.
Intercession (prayer) is how God runs His government NOW and
FOREVER. But it’s not just words we pray; It’s a lifestyle we live
in agreement with our words (Rom. 12:1). It’s a mystery that God
uses our simple words of agreement with His to release His activity
on the earth. But He does. We need to embrace our priestly role
of intercession if we want to see our world changed.
3. Blessing the people. Whether we are in the marketplace, serving
in our homes, or in full-time ministry, we have the role and
privilege to bless others with the “knowledge [experience] of
God”. Priests in the Old Testament blessed the people (Nu. 6:22),
revealed right and wrong, holy and unholy (Lev 10:3, 10-11), and
taught the people (Mal. 2:7). Today we do this wherever God places
us (Mat. 28:17-20; Mk. 16:15-18).
4. Finally, waiting for the return of Jesus (Isa. 62:6-7; Mat. 25:1-13). We
must do the first points to accomplish the fourth. We want Him
to return, because He will bring justice to all areas of life and fulfill
salvation when He returns. Simeon and Anna are examples of
waiting for Jesus’ coming (Luke 2:25-38). “Waiting” prepares the
earth for His coming.
Jesus died so we could serve as priests. What a noble calling! We
get to enjoy God forever and release heaven to earth, in this age
and the next! Let us continue to grow into this high calling.