The Royal Priesthood

1 Peter 2:9-12

You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

LONG AGO, GOD DESIGNATED one tribe of Israel to serve as the nation’s priests and, in a larger sense, created Israel to be a priestly nation for others (Exodus 19:6). In each case, his purpose was to establish relational connections and lines of communication between himself and a fallen world. Priests stood at the vertical axis between heaven and earth to represent human beings to God and God to human beings. They voiced the confessions and requests of the people to God, and they voiced God’s desires and instructions to the people. They bridged the gap between human and divine.

God also appointed kings to serve the public good—to stand at the horizontal axis of human institutions to protect, provide for, and preserve the nation’s welfare. People looked to the king to govern, mediate relationships with others, and bridge any gaps needed to be bridged.

The New Testament covenant grafts all Jesus followers into the royal priesthood of Israel, which means that every believer becomes a king and a priest in the service of others (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). We are filled with the holy presence to hear confessions (James 5:16), declare forgiveness (John 20:23), and intercede for each other (Ephesians 6:18). Jesus is our high priest and eternal King; we represent him on earth in both roles. We have a royal responsibility to serve the greater good.

That responsibility is not confined to fellow believers. Just as Israel served as a priestly nation for the world, so do we. No one outside the church, and probably few within, will recognize us as priests or kings. But our effectiveness does not depend on being recognized. Encourage, heal, bridge gaps, confess sins on behalf of your city and nation and world, and speak God’s life into your surroundings. Stand attentively at the intersection of heaven and earth to serve the interests of God and those who need him.

{Lord, impress upon me the importance of my position as a dual citizen of heaven and earth. May I represent you well to this broken world, and may I represent it compassionately and earnestly to you. Bridge any gaps you desire to bridge with me. Amen.