Priests, Serving God

Yesterday I shared the verse from Revelation 1:6 where John tells us that Jesus has made us to be a kingdom of priests, serving his God and Father.

But what does it look like to have a priestly calling?

Many years ago our family took in two foster children, two sisters – four and six years old. And at some point early in their stay with us, I was cleaning out their room and changing the sheets. As I stuck my hand under the mattress, I felt something. I found a whole stash of french fries and half a sandwich. Then on the other side, I found some chicken. What I later learned is that it is not uncommon for people who have been close to starvation to hoard food.

I don’t know about you but I’ve never experienced anything like that. In that sense, I’ve never really truly been hungry. It just raises my awareness that there are people in our community even right here in our backyard who don’t get enough to eat, who live part of their lives wondering about their next meal. 

I think about the folks in my church who are out there walking the neighborhoods every year for Crop Walk to raise money and awareness, helping provide concrete food assistance for people in need. I think about others who work in food pantries and soup kitchens, feeding the hungry on a daily basis.

These are priestly callings. 

John says Jesus has made you to be a kingdom of priests.

I wonder how that priestly calling might look in your own life.

Let us pray:  We thank you, O God, for your calling on our lives. We pray that you would grant us healing, mercy, and grace upon grace. And even as we are being healed and renewed, use us as an instrument of your love in a world desperately in need; through Christ our Lord. Amen.