“But you are not like that, 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.” 1 Peter 2:9
Dear People Who Keep Company with God,
In this remarkable verse, Peter writes about the blessings and privileges we have received from God. The Holy Spirit wants us to know how special we are. Moreover, He provides insights into the challenges and questions concerning our identity and purpose. We are a chosen people and a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We are God’s precious possession, His children. One of our most incredible privileges as sons and daughters is being part of a royal priesthood for our God. As such, we are kings and priests unto Him. By His grace and through faith in Him, we have been given access into the throne room of God. We can stand in the presence of the Almighty, both as God’s children and as priests to Him. The essence of being a priest is having access to God to reveal His goodness to others.
In Exodus 29, the Lord gave Moses instructions for the ordination of the priests. It is a beautiful picture of how we, as New Covenant believers, are cleansed, dedicated, and empowered to minister as priests unto the Lord. Part of the ceremony involved laying hands on a ram, a type of Christ (Exodus 29:19). It was symbolic of connection and identification with the sacrificial ram, which is at the heart of their consecration to priestly service. Similarly, our relationship and identification with Jesus Christ and His crucifixion are at the heart of our priestly calling.
Then Moses was told to “kill the ram, apply some of its blood to the right earlobes of Aaron and his sons. Also, put it on the thumbs of their right hands and the big toes of their right feet. Splatter the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar.” (Exodus 29:20) Why did Moses apply blood? The life is in the blood. There is wonder-working power in the blood. God wanted the life of the sacrificial ram to mark His priests. From that day forward, they would hear differently because the blood was on their ears. Their worship and work would carry the fragrance of His life since the blood was on their thumbs. They would walk and stand in faith as the blood was on their toes. Moses applied the blood to their right sides, which were considered superior, with more strength and skill in the Hebrew culture. It represented their entire lives. We, too, are marked with His blood.
God is love, and the most significant expression of His love toward us is the blood of Jesus. That love covers every need we have or will have, and every time we apply the blood through the genuine confession of our faith, we can experience His love and the power of His blood anew. By your union with Christ and His blood, you share in all He is and does. In this case, His high priestly office means that you, too, are a holy and royal priest.
Many Blessings, BW