The Privilege

Over the past several days, I’ve shared the verse from Revelation 1:4-6 where John tells us that Jesus has made us to be a kingdom of priests, serving his God and Father, and I’ve shared some concrete examples of a priestly calling. But I do recognize that this calling goes far beyond the walls of the church. 

I think about those of you who will call on the neighbor in need, who will bring a home-cooked meal, who are willing to sit and listen to someone who is lonely, and others of you who give so generously to your community.

Sometimes we try to separate the world into sacred versus secular. But the Bible never makes such a distinction. Jesus has made you to be a kingdom of priests not just in church, but in the world out there.

And isn’t it a privilege? To be a part of something like this, to give from the heart. It does something inside us. There’s an inner joy and peace that comes when we live out this calling. I have to believe that’s true because the love, mercy, and grace that we experience from Jesus, must flow through us. 

John writes in verses 5-6: To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood… It is him, it is Jesus who has made us a kingdom, priests…

May you come to see that you have a priestly calling.  When you wake up in the morning, maybe you could put on your imaginary clerical collar to face the world. It could even be a prayer: How am I going to stand in the gap today? How do you want to use me O God? How is your love going to flow through me – to them? Help me to listen and respond.  

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.