A Few Bible Thoughts For Your Day

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Date: Jun 27 2017 3:44 PM

Hey Everybody,

I hope your week is starting off on a positive note. We had two great services on Sunday and look forward to our time together Wednesday night. We have also had several visitors over the last few weeks. For that we are grateful!

For today, here are a few thoughts.

Priesthood of Believers

"You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).

It would be a challenge to find a religion on the face of the earth that did not have its priests, or at least something very similar. These individuals serve as the mediators between the deity and the people. They administer that religion. In this sense, Christianity has no priests. That is, there is no special group of people through whom the Christian must go to reach God. That is because each Christian is able to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4: 16). But, it is this very fact that leads Peter to make the statement he does: all Christians are priests. It is this fact that every Christian needs to understand and appreciate.

As a priest, the Christian is afforded great privilege. Just as Aaron and his sons were initially separated from the people for the purpose of services to God (Exodus 28: 1ff), so is the Christian. Peter wrote to Christians experiencing rejection and persecution from the world (1 Peter 4:4, 12-16). He wanted them to know that no matter how the world treated them, as Christians, as priests, they were in an honored and privileged position before God.

With every privilege comes responsibility in the exercise of that privilege. Aaron and his sons were "ordained" (Exodus 28:41) as priests. Literally this meant "to fill the hands." At least a part of the significance of this phrase was that they were given work to do. Their hands were filled with responsibility. It’s the same for the Christian priest. Peter speaks of offering "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." This is no small responsibility. We find the spiritual sacrifices of the Christian spoken of elsewhere in the New Testament. "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:15-16). “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1). In worship, in service, in all the duties of Christian living, as priests, Christians offer sacrifices to God.

It is of no small significance that these sacrifices must be offered through Christ. This is consistent with what Jesus claimed and what Paul taught (John 14:6; Colossians 3:17). Only sacrifices offered through Christ are acceptable. However, matters such as faith (Hebrews 11:6), spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), accordance with God's will (Matthew 7:21), and so forth, must be given consideration. You see, it is a tremendous responsibility to offer sacrifices to God, a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Priesthood carries great privilege, as well as responsibility. Since every Christian is a priest, Christianity carries great privilege and responsibility. Christians must never minimize the importance of their position before Almighty God.

Have a great week! Come see us sometime, we'd love to have you!

Mitch Robison

Enon Church of Christ

1366 Enon Rd.

Webb, AL 36376

[email protected]

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