Experiencing God's Presence #293

[He] has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.

Revelation 1:6, NKJV

Most of us are happy just with getting to heaven by the mercy of God and haven’t given much thought to a throne. And unless we’re filled with pride, we aren’t preoccupied with exercising dominion over any earthly realm, much less a heavenly one. It’s hard to know what that would even look like. We’ve envisioned a death or rapture that takes us away from earth, never to endure this planet again. But reigning? With the only true Lord? On earth? That stretches a lot of people’s theology.

At the very least, we know this: by adopting us into His family, God has given us (1) a royal status and (2) a priestly function. We are priests/kings, or as Scripture describes it, a nation of priests or a royal priesthood.

A priest has the privilege of representing God to humanity (expressing His will, declaring His forgiveness, displaying His heart, for example) and of representing humanity to God (confessing sins, praying for His help, for example). It’s a vertical relationship, a position at the intersection between divine and human interaction. A king, on the other hand, has the privilege of implementing God’s government and policies on earth. It’s a horizontal relationship, a position over human affairs on behalf of a higher authority. Combined, the two roles carry both heaven’s and earth’s authority. And according to God’s Word, we have been given both.

How do you exercise those roles? Begin to see yourself as one of God’s representatives on earth, knowing the authority in which you stand. Wherever you see something that does not reflect the Kingdom of God, pray and act to bring the Kingdom into that place. Persist in the Spirit until the earthly situation bows to heaven’s rule. Live and speak as a child of the King.

Father, show me how to live as a priest and as a king. Help me speak Your will and live it out in every situation I see.

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