I read a passage of scripture a couple of weeks ago that I have been meaning to write about since I read it. It is 1 Peter 2:5, which says "And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."
I've understood for a while now the truth that as a Christian, I am a priest of God. Christians do not need earthly priests to serve as a mediator for them to get to God, because Jesus has done that for us through his death and resurrection. "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." (Eph. 3:12) I will always remember my pastor in high school, Mike Johnson, who would tell our congregration, "Raise your hand if you are a priest!" Most would unassuredly raise their hands, wondering if this was a trick question.
I've never really grasped what this truth meant, and I still probably don't fully understand it. But, when I read 1 Peter 2:5 the other day, something clicked that hadn't before. You see, the role of a priest in Old Testament times was much different than what a priest is today. Instead of wearing a clean, black suit with a white collar tab, which is the picture that comes to my mind of present-day Catholic priests, OT priests were more than likely covered in the sacrificial blood of animals most of the time. Hebrews 10:11 says that "under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins," while 2 Chronicles 13:11 says "they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and evening." A priest was never able to sit down. Their work was never finished, since the sacrifices they offered to God were never fully pleasing to Him. Only Jesus, our High Priest, "sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand." (Hebrews 10:12)
So, what does this mean for us as Christians today? Many times I think we get burdened by feeling that, even though we're forgiven, God still isn't fully pleased with us despite our best efforts. What we fail to recognize is that Jesus is fully pleasing to God, and as God's holy priests, we can now offer sacrifices that are pleasing to Him. These sacrifices can come all throughout our everyday lives...singing a praise song in the car, praying for our family and friends, serving those who are in need, giving our best in our jobs for His glory, enjoying fellowship with other Christians, the list can go on and on. And the great thing is that all of these sacrifices are pleasing to God, because Jesus is pleasing to God.
May we all live out Romans 12:1, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." A perfect description of our role as holy priests of God.
