Priests Who Party

Oct. 20

Read: Romans 12:19-21

The People of God;

A Holy and Royal Priesthood

Celebration

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.” (v.15)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

You may not think of it this way… but the priesthood knows how to party! An important aspect of the priesthood in the old covenant was to facilitate the annual festivals. These were PARTIES and CELEBRATIONS that brought the people of God together and facilitated them remembering all that He had done for them. These were times of JOY and FULLNESS that the people of God looked forward to. This is what we, as a priesthood, continue to do today.

Do you know that you have the ability to bring joy, fullness, and celebration into the lives of those around you? Romans 12:9-21 paints the picture of our lives, and verse 15 stands out to me, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” You see, a priest brings the party and/or the comfort. God wants us to stir up joy and celebration in His people. He wants us to bring comfort to those who mourn. He entrusts this work to his “nation of priests” (cf. our previous readings) and delivers THROUGH them these blessings. This is supernatural. It is a spiritual work. It is not you trying to be “fun” - but rather it is you realizing that God’s people bring His joy and love with them, and part of our job is to facilitate CELEBRATION. Who would have thought that celebration and joy would go along with being a “priest”.

So today, as you come to the Lord and lay down your life as a “living sacrifice” (cf. Rom. 12:1,2) asking what HE has for you today to say and do remember that you will find NOT death but LIFE, and BLESSING and CELEBRATION. Our reluctance to be a priest and living sacrifice is tied to this old idea that it means death to us, to life, to fun, to blessing, ad to whatever skewed idea we have… and Christ says, “I have swallowed death! All there is left in me is LIFE! You will be LIVING SACRIFICES. And as priests, you will still receive the blessing of delivering the sacrifice. You are PLEASING to God.” One of the things it means to be a living sacrifice and laying your life down is to be one who facilitates “rejoicing” and celebration for others! It is like God is bringing a party through you wherever he sends you. Even when it is sending you into tough situations where you will “mourn with those who mourn” your “mourning” will be a COMFORT to those around you. God will deliver these things THROUGH you in a supernatural way! This is the “royal priesthood” … this is your life as a SAINT… this is what we get to be a part of! This is YOUR part in God’s story. Love you guys. - JDP