The Word For Today: Called to Be a Priest (1)

‘…[You] have made us kings and priests to our God…’

Revelation 5:10

John writes, ‘For You…have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God…’ (vv 9-10 NKJV). Since you’re called to be a ‘priest’, let’s see what that involves: They ministered in three different levels of light. Picture the Old Testament tabernacle. The priests spent most of their time with the people in the outer court, which was illuminated by daylight. They spent less time in the inner court, where a seven-branched lamp stand, referred to as a menorah, illuminated the shewbread on the table. Then once a year the high priest would go into the Holiest of Holies, where the light of God’s presence was so intense, and it was referred to as the ‘Shekinah’.

So when God calls you to minister, you’ll spend most of your time in the outer court meeting people’s needs. Sometimes you’ll go into the inner court where the light of God’s Spirit illuminates His Word and gives you something to say that’s worth hearing. But in times of crisis, when human wisdom won’t solve the problem, you’ll have to go into the Holiest of Holies and receive the kind of light that only comes from God Himself. And people will know you’ve been there because, like Moses, when you come out they’ll notice something different about you.

Being a priest is a high calling. But God has called you to it, and if you’re willing to pay the price you can carry a sense of His presence with you wherever you go.

Jer 20-21, 1 Tim 3