Kingdom of Priests

 Kingdom of Priests

Matthew 6:9-13     Hebrews 4:14-16    1 Peter 2:9-11  

Jesus came to announce that God’s kingdom is coming here on earth as it is in heaven and we are invited to play a part in that process. One of the ways we get to do that is through intercession—stepping in and speaking up on someone else’s behalf.

If it sounds bold to pray these kinds of prayers, that’s because it is! We are asking God, the rightful King of the universe, to do something about what is damaged and broken in our world. That’s humbling to think about. That’s also why it’s so powerful that Jesus opens this prayer with the reminder that our holy God, the King of the cosmos, wants us to relate to Him as Father.

Pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you that I can come to you and call attention to the things in this world that are not as they should be. Jesus, thank you for making a way for me to come before the Father. Holy Spirit, make me aware of the people you want me to speak up for and the problems you have called me to step into. I trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT

Consider…

We have a great High Priest. What does that mean? The high priest was the one man who could enter the most holy part of the temple. He would go in once a year and intercede for the nation of Israel, offering special sacrifices as an act of atonement for the wrong things the people had done.

The author of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is our High Priest. He sacrificed Himself as an act of atonement for all the wrong things we have done, rose again, and entered heaven. He went to the realm where God rules, and in doing so, made a way for us to enter that space. And not just enter God’s presence, but enter with confident assurance that our heavenly Father is listening and will help us when we need it the most.

God has always intended for His people to have this kind of access to Him. When He rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He brought them out into the desert to form them into a kingdom of priests—people who experienced God and expressed what He was like to the rest of the world. And we too are chosen, royal priests, so that we might declare who our God is and what Jesus has done to rescue us from darkness and bring us into His light.

Practice…

Come boldly before the throne of grace today. What is a big problem that you would like to see solved? What is an audacious prayer that you have been scared to pray? What does boldness look like in prayer?

Practice praying with boldness by asking God to address an area of brokenness in the world. Be encouraged that He hears the cries of the oppressed and He longs to partner with someone in the rescue process.

Maybe today, the boldest prayer you can pray is to ask God to make you bold. Or to ask Him to break your heart over injustices in the world.

Listen…

As you finish praying today, create space for God to speak to you. Set your timer for five minutes and just be still and quiet, humbling yourself before your good King.

Ask Him to speak to you.

When you get distracted, come back to Jesus by praying the Lord’s Prayer, slowly, line-by-line, listening for the Holy Spirit to comfort and challenge you to take a step of obedience today.