Divine Royalty

Read: Revelation 5

You have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth. Revelation 5:10

IN WORD

Peter calls it “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV). John, in Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, refers to “kings and priests.” Both writers point to God’s promise to Moses that God’s chosen people would be a kingdom of priests and a holy, set-apart nation (Exodus 19:6). Regardless of the exact wording, we can be confident of this: that we have a priestly function and a royal function. We reign with Jesus (Revelation 20:6).

Priests have a distinct role: They represent human beings to God (through prayers, petitions, confession); and they represent God to humanity (declaring His words, will, and forgiveness). It’s a specific place in the vertical relationship between God and people. Kings, on the other hand, have another role: to cultivate, implement, protect, and govern relationships between human beings. It’s a specific place in the horizontal, human-to-human connection with each other. Together, the vertical and horizontal relationships form a cross, with the kings/priests and the intersection of the lines. We are uniquely positioned to serve the Kingdom and the King.

We have a great role model for that. Jesus is the archetypical king/priest. We can fulfill this dual role because He fulfilled it and then called us to be like Him. What He is, we become. He is the example of what it means to be fully human, and He puts His Spirit within us to empower us for that deep and satisfying expression of life. We are His likeness in this world (1 John 4:17).

IN DEED

Focus on your roles as a king/queen and as a priest. You are both. As a priest, you stand at the intersection between heaven and earth, presenting the needs of those around you to God and the supply of God to those around you. And as a member of the royal family, you have the backing of the king, the authority of the family name, the DNA of the divine heritage to implement His will in this world. Learning these roles may take a lifetime, but applying them even now will powerfully influence your domain.

ADDITIONAL READING: 1 John 4:17

The most high and infinitely good God has not granted to angels the power with which He has invested priests.

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM