RPG Adults
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
1 Peter 2:9-10
Psalm 4
“Let thy mercies come also
unto me, O LORD…”
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
When the perfect sacrifice for sin was made by Christ, there was no longer the need for priests to make daily animal sacrifices. So, not only was the temple in Jerusalem replaced with a spiritual temple made up of believers, the old priesthood was also replaced. Believers become a royal priesthood able to offer up spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:5-6).
The old order of priests made daily sacrifices. How much more should we who are the new spiritual priests also make daily sacrifices. Our sacrifices are spiritual gifts to God. When we present our lives to Him for His use, we are offering an acceptable sacrifice (Rom 12:1). Another means of offering sacrifice is to use our lips to praise God (Heb 13:15- 16). Therefore, when we tell others of God’s saving grace, we are offering sacrifices that are well pleasing to the Lord.
We are not only a royal priesthood but also a holy nation. That is, as believers God sees us as one united people set apart for His service. We are called a “peculiar people” (1 Pet 2:9). This means we are chosen of God as His special possession. The purpose of all these things is not only to give us special blessing, but to enable us to bear witness to God’s saving grace. Someone has said that all that some people will ever know about the Scriptures, they will read in our lives. God has equipped us to live for Him that we might show forth His greatness.
We are further reminded that at one time, so far as God was concerned, we had no real identity as a people (1 Pet 2:10). When we were helpless and spiritually worthless, Christ died for us and made us the people of God (Rom 5:6). When we were dead in our sins, worthy only of damnation, He showed us mercy. In recognition of this mercy, we should then live in a way which pleases God and testifies of God’s grace to those still dead in sin.
THOUGHT: What spiritual sacrifices can I offer to God?
PRAYER: I have been made part of the people of God, may I thus live for Thee, my God.