Called to the priesthood
I didn’t grow up in the Catholic faith but I know some guys that felt that someday they would be a priest. It was a high calling. Martin Luther described his inward call to the priesthood as “God’s voice heard by faith”.I have been a pastor for about 10 years and the call to ministry came to me through other people. I started attending Moody Bible Institute where I received an M.A. in Biblical Studies. Throughout my time at Moody, I did internships with churches in youth ministry. I felt gifted at it and I observed that kids were growing. Other youth leaders would share with me struggles and I would start to tell them what God said in His Word. I would sometimes stop myself and say, “Oh I guess I’m preaching at you.” But many replied, “that is why I came to you.” It seemed that people wanted me to tell them what God thought. I also noticed the other leaders growing and starting to have victory in their spiritual lives. I was not afraid to question them or hold them accountable, something they had not experienced before. Some of them commented that they thought I would make a good pastor someday. I think I have known that I wanted to be in ministry every since I led my first person to Christ. I saw that this person was now going to heaven and I was bursting with joy. I told my mom, “Mom this is the greatest thing you could ever do! My friend was going to hell and now he is going to heaven.” I still think it is the greatest thing I could ever do.
As I was reading Exodus 19:3-6 While Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
God was not calling Moses only to be a priest, he was calling the whole nation of Israel! Like everyone of you is suppose to be a priest! It wasn’t like they needed to discern the call, Moses said, God says you are CALLED! Tell them they have been called.
Israel was called to be a missionary people. Each one to teach people about who God is and about his ways. Well it seems Israel kind missed it. But here is the question…Have you?
1 Peter 2:9-10 “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. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
It seems the Call is still out there for every Christians. Who are you a priest to?
Do you know what a Priest is? If you are a Christian, it is you! Intercede for people, bring them to Jesus! Welcome to the priesthood.
Tone b.
