I’m a Priest

1 Peter 2:9 “…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (NLT)

I’m a Priest! I’m not just any old Priest. I’m a Royal Priest. A Priest related to the King. Chosen by Him to be one of His children. And made Holy through Jesus’ redemptive work at Calvary. But what has that to do with being a pilgrim? Well, quite a lot actually. As I tramp my way through this life, along with all my fellow pilgrims, I have a duty to fulfil the next bit in the verse – showing others how good God is.

The world in my locality is a wet and slushy mess of ice crystals, the legacy of a blast of cold air meeting some warmer, moister air over the UK, the temperature and conditions being just right for a massive dump of snow. And it’s piled in heaps everywhere. Cold and wet, slimy and slippery, unwelcoming and unpleasant. A warming band of air is bringing some relief, melting and reducing the ice piles, but it’s a slow process. But that’s a bit like living in this world, populated as it is by a people experiencing the dump of darkness; of disease, grief, strife; relationships gone cold, sin abounding. I need to be diligent in facing into my responsibilities as a Priest of the High King, bringing the warmth of the goodness of God into the icy lives of those around me, who are heading for a lost eternity. Helping them to emerge from the dark places of their souls, praying that God’s love will melt their hearts, bringing His light to their lives.

Many years ago we used to sing a song based on this verse. Here are the lyrics:

For you are a chosen generation,

A royal priesthood, a holy nation,

A peculiar people,

That you should show forth the praises of Him.

Who has called you out of darkness,

Out of darkness,

Out of darkness,

Into His marvellous light,

Into His marvellous light.

I’m so thankful that someone put that verse to music – it’s been with me for over thirty years. Never forgotten!