SACRIFICE AND PRIESTHOOD

12/30/2023

"Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Psalm 50:5).

God loves the gatherings of His saints, particularly when they demonstrate an understanding of their priesthood unto Him. A priest is a mediator between God and people and 1 Peter 2:9 declares that you are a royal priesthood. Now, this is not a priesthood by title. There are actual obligations tied to this priesthood, and these obligations are sacrificial in nature.

1 Peter 2:5 affirms that "…you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ," implying that our purpose as priests is to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. 

You might wonder about what sacrificing would entail as a Christian or even wonder if we have to kill animals and spill blood, as might be portrayed in the practice of certain religions, but this is not the case. The only blood sacrifice required in Christianity was offered by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to the Father (see Hebrews 9:14). The sacrifices that connect with our priesthood now are more about self-denial, in preference for God's pursuits for your life. 

One of these sacrifices is the offering of ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. Speaking to you, the Holy Spirit says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). This entails maintaining a pure heart and lifestyle toward God. You abandon things, habits, and preferences that gratify the flesh and alienate you from God. 

Another sacrifice that you ought to offer as a priest is giving sacrificially to causes that the Spirit of God elects. In Philippians 4:18, Paul describes the sacrificial gift of the Church in Macedonia as "…a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." 

Yet another sacrifice that you ought to offer is prayer for others, and we know this because of what it does to God. 1 Timothy 2:3 tells us that making supplications, entreaties, intercessions, and thanksgivings for others "…is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." With prayer, sometimes it is even more advantageous to add fasting. 

Lastly, another sacrifice is the confession of the Word of God mixed with praise and thanksgiving. And this one is very important because it is a sacrifice that hallows the name of the Lord. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Two very important aspects of sacrificing unto God is knowing the cost and its periodicity. A sacrifice will cost you something: sleep, resources, time, or pleasure. Some sacrifices are to be offered momentarily. Others may be daily, monthly, annual, or one-off. Your job as God's priest is to offer spiritual sacrifices as often as you ought. 

Have a beautiful day.

Faith-Filled Confession

I am attuned to God as His devoted priest, committed to offering sacrifices solely for His delight. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am mindful of and consistently present the right sacrifices at the appointed times, earning a reputation for pleasing God unfailingly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Prayer Points:

Psalm 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."

• Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. 

• Pray against plans to use the crises in Israel to launch other attacks in the United States.

• Pray for The President of the United States and all who are in positions of authority in the United States.

• Pray for the Church in the United States and worldwide.

One-Year Reading Plan: Zechariah 13-14; Revelation 21