Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Holy Ordination: Priest- Called for a Divine Ministry
Deuteronomy 5: 20-33
v24 "...Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them." 
This week we have been reflecting on the idea of priesthood. Peter declared us to be a royal priesthood. Yet what does that really entail? What would it look like for us to really live as members of that royal priesthood? An aspect of that I want to call us to is the privilege of speaking to and hearing from God. It’s something that we take for granted and often neglect. However, it is the foundation of priesthood and one the most pivotal gifts we have received through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

In Deuteronomy 5: 23-27 the people express their shock and wonderment at the idea of a human being like Moses conversing with God. The fact that a human being in their lowliness could somehow witness the presence of God and hear his voice completely blew them away. Think about how today there is no space between us and God. Through Christ’s death the veil was torn and whatever barriers existed in forming a relationship with God were erased. If we want to talk to God, we can go to him prayer. If we want to hear from him all we have to do is listen.

That’s what it means to be a royal priesthood. In Old Testament times it would be impossible to offer anything to God except through a priest. It would be impossible to ask something of God except through that priestly intermediate. But through Christ we’ve eliminated the middle man. We are the priesthood that speaks with God and walks with God. It’s time we gave thanks for that privilege and lived it out every day.

PRAYER
Father, help us not lose sight of how you have ordained us into the royal priesthood. Wash away the pride and arrogance that makes us neglect the gift of talking with you and listening to what you have to say.  Draw us close to you each day. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God desires a servant in each of us to seek his will each day.

Jerryl Abraham, St. John’s Mar Thoma Church
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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