We usually think of them as the guys who wear their shirts backwards. The word, "priest" conjures an image of someone dressed in black with an unusual shirt who isn't allowed to be married. While fewer people aspire to such a role these days, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that all believers are priests. The "priesthood of all believers" is a well-established but greatly misunderstood truth. It really doesn't involve a unique dress-style and life of celibacy.

"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9)

Not only ARE we priests; we are destined to be priests in the coming Kingdom of God:

"Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)

The traditional view of a priest may diminish our excitement and enthusiasm for both our present and future role, but a verse that I recently read in Malachi should help to clarify things for us:

"For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 2:7)

As priests we are called to "preserve knowledge" of the Lord and His word and so embody His truth so that people seek out our instruction. Thus we serve as His messengers both in this age and the age to come.

May you find great joy and fulfillment today as God's messengers who embody His living truth and represent it to a world in desperate need.

Steve