1 Peter 2:5
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
When my children were very small, some friends gave us a week of their timeshare in Destin, Florida. It was a beautiful facility with an incredible staff. The friends who gifted this fabulous treasure always addressed me as Brother Jim. It didn’t take long to realize that there had been a meeting among the staff, and they had been informed that a minister was arriving for a week in this paradise. To the front desk, I was Pastor Sellers; to the beach attendant, I was Reverend Sellers, to the pool attendant I was Father Sellers, and to my room attendant, I was Bishop Sellers. Each addressing me from their own experience.
I Peter 2:9 makes the statement: “But you are a chosen generation (God chose us through His grace), a royal priesthood (God has adopted us into his royal family), and a holy nation.” We were chosen and adopted so that those around us can see the difference this holy relationship can make. Realize who you are through what God has done.
After ministering at a funeral, I went to the hospital, where one of the music family was recovering from surgery. I was dressed in monochrome: black shoes, a black suit, black shirt, and black tie. Arriving at the nurse’s station for directions, I was told that my friend was at the other end of the hospital. I started my journey when the door hundreds of feet away opened and a very large Spanish speaking family began their walk in my direction. Soon they were pointing at me and engaged in some conversation that seemed to involve me. When I was just a few yards away, the family all stopped, bowed toward me, and made the sign of the cross. As I passed I said, “I pray you have a blessed day!” The patriarch of the family said “Thank you, Padre!” and we went our ways. Little did they know they were just blessed by a Southern Baptist Priest.
Through what God has done, may you find a priest in your mirror.
While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
- How does it change your view of yourself and your mission to see yourself as part of a holy priesthood?
- What does it mean that we are “living stones?” What could that mean in light of how we are to work with other believers?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
Jim Sellars, Minister of Music and YAH Director
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash