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John to the seven churches that are in Asia:Grace to you and peace fromhim who is and who was and who is to come...and made us to be a kingdom,priests serving his God and Father,to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.(Revelation 1:4ff, NRSV)

Have you ever considered your priesthood?

Not the priesthood? YOUR priesthood?

Didn't know you ARE a priest?

Reread the verses above.

Notice in his letter to the seven churches, John is not writing only to the leaders of the congregations. He is writing to the congregations. And John writes that Christ has made us...priests.

What does that mean? How does a priest act? What does a priest do?

As I was reading through Exodus 28 I came across a great passage that sheds a little bit of insight into our role as priests. This chapter shows God describing to Moses exactly what the clothing of the priests shall look like and how it shall be made.

The ephod, often thought to be like a large apron-type-garment, would have stones on it, representing the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes making up the nation of Israel. Those stones would be set on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as a remembrance for the sons of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance (28:12).

Next the breastplate worn by Aaron and the priests is described. In the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the Israelites on his heart before the LORD continually (28:30).

The Urim and Thummim were used by the priests to discern God's will and judgment on the people.

Notice the priests bore the people on their shoulders and on their hearts.

As you consider praying today, who will you bear on your shoulders and on your heart? For whom are you praying, begging, pleading to God? Will you continue until God steps up and responds?

As you make decisions throughout the day, whose burden will you carry around on your shoulders? Are your decisions made only with you in mind or does God somehow want to affect the lives of others through you?

As you use your time and your energy, whose name and life will you carry close to your heart? Will their destiny change the way you spend your day or your resources?

We have been invited to be priests who intercede between the people and God. May our lives, our words, our actions, and our attitudes reflect this high and holy calling.

Grace & peace