Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Priesthood of all Believers

Dr. Binu Chacko
St. John’s MTC, New York.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
 
In this passage, the apostle addressed the difference between Christians and unbelievers. We all have learned and even experienced how believing in God and living righteously has resulted in various blessings and mercy. But living and growing up in our middle-class and affluent lifestyles of western culture, many of us have fallen to greed, envy, hypocrisy, deceit, malice and slander (v1). Our children are facing cyber-bullying, low self-esteem, and loneliness. Our children need to know they are precious to Him (v4). We are stressed with lack of time with family and personal time for spiritual and physical health, faced with work/ various social programs and other distractions in our lives. Our elders and parents are facing loneliness, health concerns, and other uncertainties. We need to understand that we are called to be part of the spiritual house. As one of the living stones we must make the sacrifices necessary to take care of us so we can better care for our children, elders, community, and the world at large (v5).

We are all asked to live like new born babies, craving spiritual milk to grow in our salvation as we have tasted that the Lord is good (v3). We are blessed with jobs, health, family, friends and a community. How are we nurturing all the blessings in our lives?  At work, do we work to the best of our ability and maintain ethical conduct? Personally, do we exercise, eat right, and educate ourselves to maintain good health? At home, do we spend enough time with our spouse, children, siblings, parents, and most of all God? With our friends, do we provide good advice, listen, and help those who need our help - even when they don’t ask for our help?  In our community, do we stay away from gossip, hatred, jealousy, and help others who are outside our friendship circle?

Christ is referred to as the cornerstone - the foundation, those of us who trust in Him have the guarantee that we will not be put to shame (v6). But the warning is loud and clear that if we are not being the living stone for God’s spiritual house, we can be the stone that the builder throws away (v7) and become the rock that makes people stumble and fall (v8).

So let us remind ourselves that we need to take ownership of the royalty that we are being offered. Will we be the living stone, called to build up God’s spiritual house, where we can all worship, sings praises and give glory to God?

PRAYER


Help us, Lord, to realize we are the chosen people whom You have called to be a Holy nation. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Your Creator and the cross are the two definers of who you are: who He made you to be, and your worth to Him.” RZIM (Ravi Zacharias)

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