Friday, May 10, 2013

Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)



SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  12-20-03

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Royal Priesthood

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Peter 2:9

            Message of the verse:  9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  (NIV)  “9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (KJ21 Century) 
            As stated in the last “spiritual diary” New Testament believers are all priests.  The OT priest had a priesthood, however the NT believer is a priesthood, and there is a difference.  IN the OT times the priests and Levites would serve the high priest, and in the NT, believers also serve the High Priest, who is Jesus Christ.  I believe that one of the reasons that we pray in the name of Jesus Christ is because He is our High Priest who is now in heaven and who makes intersession for the believers.
      Peter mentioned especially the privilege of offering “spiritual sacrifices.” Christians today do not bring animal sacrifices as did the Old Testament worshipers; but we do have our own sacrifices to present to God. We ought to give our bodies to Him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2), as well as the praise of our lips (Heb. 13:15) and the good works we do for others (Heb. 13:16). The money and other material things we share with others in God’s service is also a spiritual sacrifice (Phil. 4:10-20). Even the people we win to Christ are sacrifices for His glory (Rom. 15:16). We offer these sacrifices through Jesus Christ, for only then are they acceptable with God. If we do any of this for our own pleasure or glory, then it will not be accepted as a spiritual sacrifice.”  (Be Hopeful)

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One of the things that keeps going over in my mind is the definition of the word sanctification, which is that I as a believer am becoming in practice what I am in position.  The more that I learn about God and His wonderful grace the more that I see myself in a selfish and ungrateful way, for there are far, far to many times when I do not give praise to the Lord for what He has done for me, and all of the benefits that He has given to me, and one of these is the privilege of being a priest, for this is a wonderful position that He has given to me, and I am thankful for it and also want to use this position to bring honor and glory to the Lord.

The Word of God did bring conviction to my heart today as I read it.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord through these trials that He is putting me through because of His promises from His Word.
Memory verse for the week:  1Corthians 10:13
            13.  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
  

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