June 15 Be a Priest

Luke 1:8-10 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
 
ZECHARIAH is a priest in Israel. As recorded in God’s law in the book of Leviticus, priests were divided into groups to offer sacrifices for the people at appropriate times.
     Zechariah and his division are on duty at the temple in Jerusalem for one week a year. And by lot (a Spirit-guided process of discerning whom God is choosing for his work), it is determined that he will go into the Holy Place, into God’s presence. There he would burn incense and offer prayers for his people. Zechariah was doing his duties. He was born into the clan of priests, and he accepted his position in life with a humble, serving heart. God ordained him to this position, and he obeyed.
     From the Old Testament of the law to the New Testament of grace, God has moved his priestly functions into all who believe in Jesus. The Apostle John writes to the early church this stunning description of Jesus’ transforming power into our lives: Revelation 1:4-8 John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
     What does it mean to be a “priest to serve God? Here are some thoughts The Old Testament priests offered sacrifices. We do not offer animal sacrifices, but we offer our lives as living sacrifices to Christ. We sacrifice our desires to put him first in our lives. We sacrifice and offer our time and gifts to strengthen Jesus’ church. We sacrifice money to give to those in great need. We may sacrifice our home to welcome strangers, food to feed the unknown, clothes to cover the naked, and words to comfort the afflicted. Perhaps most of all, our priestly duty as a Christian is to intercede in prayer for all. We pray for our pastors, our church, our neighbors, our family, our nation and our world.
     Priests also offered blessings to God’s people. Christian priesthood is proclaiming blessing and praise to others and to God. Christian priests love to be faithful witnesses of the God who has called them. A priest in Christ models Jesus, who is our great High Priest (See Hebrews 7.)
     As Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter into the Holy Place in the temple, God has chosen you to be his living temple. In Christ you become God’s Holy Place! Zechariah submitted to his dutiful “lot in life”. He went to meet with God and pray for people. Will you submit to God and be his priest?
 
Prayer: Oh, thank you, Father for choosing me to be yours. Grant to me a holy reverence for my role as a priest for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.