1 Peter 1:9 But you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Blackaby uses this verse to remind believers that we are priests and enumerates some of the duties/responsibilities/privileges that accompany priesthood.
1. As a priest, we do not need an intermediary in order to enter God's presence. Whether it is for supplication, confession or consolation, each Christian is blessed with immediate, 24-7 access to God the Father.
2. Priests also function within a priesthood. (Leviticus 9:1) Our position as priests comes with the duty to act in concert with other "priests" to accomplish God's purposes here on earth. (Side thought- Does God have purposes, or just one purpose?)
3. A priest is responsible for taking the cares/concerns/burdens of others to God. Am I faithful in praying for those needs on the Faith Family prayer list? When I tell someone at work, "I'll be praying for you/your family/your health/etc.", do I follow through?
In addition to the priestly duties outlined by Blackaby, two words in today's reading jumped out at me--"his possession". I have heard preached time and again that all I own is God's. My time, talent and money all belong to him. But this is the first time I have really realized that not only is all my "stuff" his, but he also owns me. I have no "rights" under God. There is no room for me to demand that God do this or that. He owns me. I am his possession. He has the right to do with me what he wills, when he wills and how he wills it be done. I am not sure yet what this realization means to me or how it will play out in my life, but I needed to record the epiphany before I let the cares of today wipe it from my memory.
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