Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Calling of Every Believer”

Far too often we compartmentalize what it means to be a Christian. We talk about out need to evangelize, read and study the God’s word, pray, worship, and serve. These are just a few of the many things we know as believers we ought to do.

Our problem is that we separate all these into things we do, rather than who we are. This problem is perpetuated by what we are told by others.

Talking about our need to be both teachers and intercessors, E.M. Bounds says that while teaching is good intercession is better.

“Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.”

This is not meant to discredit what E.M. Bounds is trying to get across, because as intercessors, those who represent others to God, most of us fall short.

But maybe if we saw ourselves as the Lord does, describing us as His holy and a royal priesthood, then maybe we would re-evaluate our calling.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit the Apostle Peter said, “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 … You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

A priest in the Old Testament was someone who not only represented the people to God through prayers and sacrifices, but they also represented God to the people in teaching them God’s word.

How then are we to stop thinking of our calling as being this or that, being one thing or another? The Apostle Paul tells us that this is accomplished when as priests we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).