Experiencing God's Presence #259

You will be called priests of the LORD, ministers of our God.

Isaiah 61:6

A biblical priest stands in a unique position between God and humanity. He represents the words and purposes of God to human beings and the needs and petitions of human beings to God. It’s a role of interceding, of functioning as a mediator between the human and divine. Like an agent between two parties in a negotiation, the priest seeks to represent the interests of both in a way that brings them together.

God designated priests within Israel to represent the nation to God and to speak God’s words to the nation. He also designated Israel as a priestly nation for the other nations of the world—a global go-between to make Him known and through whom salvation would be revealed and offered. Then He sent Jesus as the High Priest who forever lives to make intercession for His people. But in Him, every believer becomes a priest in his or her sphere of influence. We are priests to one another within the church and a nation of priests to the world (1 Peter 2:5, 9). The Presence of God resides within us for a vital cosmic purpose.

Learn to see yourself as a go-between standing in the space that separates God and a needy world. Your role is to intercede for the nations and to represent God to their people. As a priest, you are called to be holy—not detached from the world or impossibly righteous, as many interpret holiness, but to be set aside by God for a specific purpose. For many people, you are a link to the divine. You may not have realized you were chosen for that role, but the Presence within you mandates it. You are a minister of God.

Lord, I know I’m called to “the ministry”—we all are. How do I do that in my work? In my family? In my community? Show me. Empower me to represent You to others and lift up others to You.

From the book