“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
1 Peter 2: 9-10 [NIV]
Peter also says that we are chosen to be a royal priesthood. We no longer need the Old Testament idea of a sacrificing priest, offering burnt offerings to God to appease sin. We have Jesus who is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, we are in a new covenant.
I learnt the hard way, when on a long walk, that in Welsh “Pont ar Gau” means bridge closed. Pontefract in Yorkshire, famous for its cakes, means broken bridge. In Latin the word for priest is Pontifex – bridge builder.
“He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15: 16 [NIV]
We are go-betweens, placed by God in the world, to cry and work in and for the world. We must bring the world’s needs to God where we place them at the cross. We leave them in Gods outstretched arms, to Jesus our advocate. Then ask how can I help? What is my part in building today, to bring the world closer to Jesus?
Father, show us today where you want us to intercede for the world.
Guy Mowbray
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