Brad Easley
1 Peter 2:9-10 “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.”
Cohen, my only son, turned seven years old this past week. I recall very clearly the circumstances of his birth, and even more, the circumstances of choosing his name. I had been reading through this section from 1 Peter (and Exodus 19, which Peter quotes). In recent years, the Lord has been speaking to me about His heart for His church – namely, that every believer would carry the power, love and authority as a priest of God – or, as the Hebrew calls it, a “kohen”. One of the meanings of kohen is “one who draws near.”
We named our son this in a prophetic act over his life that he would be part of a new generation of kohenim (the plural form) who draw near to God, minister to His heart, and stand as intercessors to the world.
Like the priests of the Old Testament, God’s people are still meant to be set apart (consecrated). The priests were unqiue among the other tribes of Israel. They had no inheritance of land or territory. Their only inheritance was the tabernacle of God. That’s the condition God requires of us if we are to accomplish His heart for us – that our sole pursuit be His presence. .
In our set-apart-ness, we are also meant to share His holy character. In actions, thoughts, behaviours, actions, ambitions (essentially, everything) God wants us to live as He does – with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and so on (Gal. 5). This ‘holy character’ (not legalistic self-righteous works, mind you, but rather Spirit-empowered living) is the qualification of our priesthood. We can stand before a holy God because we too have been made holy.
And finally, as a peculiar people set apart and made holy, we’re called to be ministers to the people around us. We’re not just a Sunday gathering. We’re a rescue squad, pulling people from destruction. We’re a lifeboat, throwing lifelines to all who will receive. We’re chain-breakers, disease-healers, gentle encouragers, bold truth-tellers, thundering prophetic voices, culture-shifting intercessors, matchmakers, spiritual midwives. This, friends, is our function as a community of royal priests.
My prayer for you this week? Draw near to the heart of God. Stand in His presence. Hear His voice. Be slowly transformed by what you see, hear, experience. And say ‘yes’ to this high calling.
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