1 Peter 2:9-10
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Adam and Eve walked in complete unity with the Father and in complete unity with one another. When they sinned, they became aware of their nakedness and for the first time experienced a broken relationship with God, blaming others for their sin. As God approached them, and asked questions about what they had done, he invited them into an opportunity for restoration in relationship by confessing their sin. Even in that moment, God had the redemptive plan of Jesus in mind that would create the possibility for us to walk in unity with the Father and unity with one another once again.
When we think about our relationship with God, we tend to look at things from an individual perspective. And while our relationship is personal, we are called to be a part of the body of Christ. We are collectively, as a body of Christ followers, called royal, chosen, and holy. As such, we are a representation of Christ, a physical embodiment of his presence. While we are uniquely created in God’s image, with no two people being exactly the same, we are to use those unique expressions of his image to work together as a body to represent God to others. As priests, we are created to be in and carry God’s presence. We learn to carry God’s presence by pursuing him and creating time and space to be with God. As we worship, we create an atmosphere where God’s presence is welcome. It is a fragrant offering to the Lord.
Priests serve as a representation of God to others. How does the world know who God is and what he looks like? By his people. We, both individually and collectively as the body of Christ, represent God. The priesthood was not just an individual role, but a group of people set apart by God to do his holy work. The priests worshiped the Lord and were the only ones allowed into the Holy of Holies. They heard the voice of God and carried out his plans. They transported the ark where the presence of God rested. They made sacrifices for the sins of others. And while we are no longer beholden to Mosaic law, we still uphold these duties.
While there is no longer an ark to carry the presence, our bodies are a temple of God and we carry his presence in each one of us. We represent God to the world by how we live, what we say, how we love, how we care for the lost, the hurting and the broken. We no longer make the sacrifice of animals for people’s sins as a mediator between man and God. Today we bring people before the Lord in intercession. When we pray and petition on behalf of another, we are acting in our priestly duties of being a mediator between God and man.
We are made to walk in unity with God and with each other, working together to accomplish the will of God and advancing his Kingdom. As sons and daughters of the King, we are royalty, equipped with the power and authority of our Heavenly Father. As priests, we are his representative and mediator, exemplifying intimacy and unity with God and with one another. Everything about God is relational. As a royal priesthood, He is inviting you into an intimate relationship with him to do His work alongside him and with the body. What an amazing opportunity!
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, what does it look like for me to walk in my identity in you? What does it look like for me to be a part of a bigger identity as a part of a royal priesthood? What are you inviting me into personally with you and corporately in the body? Where are areas I need to grow to help build unity and represent you well?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for your wisdom and guidance. You are my council and I trust you. Teach me how to walk as a representative of you. Help me to be a good steward of my physical body as your temple. Guide me in my actions so when people see me, they see you. May I honor you with my words and may I love others the way you do.Train me to be a unifier of the body of Christ. Grow me as a part of your royal priesthood. Show me who you want me to intercede for and lead me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Lord, I desire to carry your presence and represent you well. Help me in my pursuit of you. Equip me. Correct me. I’m yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on a Royal Priesthood:
1 Peter 2:4-5
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:16-17
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Ephesians 2:19-22
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Revelation 1:5-6
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”