Did you know you are a Priest?

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth Rev 5:10

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5-6

I guess I've read this Scriptures a thousand times before. I always thought. Oh, how cool! But I never took the time to stop and reflect on what it meant to be a priest. If you are born again and have the Spirit of God living within you, then guess what, you are already a priest.

So, what does a priest do? Here's what I came up with.

A priest offers sacrifices to God on behalf of others
A priest spends a lot of time in God's presence to discern His will.
A priest is God's representative to the people
A priest studies the Word of God
A priest knows the Word of God and teaches the people
A priest comforts those who mourn
A priest encourages those who are weak
A priest warns those who are lost
A priest loves the unlovable
A priest forgives
A priest cares for those in need
A priest offers Godly counsel

Can you think of other things a priest does?
I don't know about you, but as I went through this list, it really convicted me.  Am I any of those things? Well, maybe I do some of them on occasion, but do I take my role as priest to a dying world seriously? Or do I spend most of my time thinking of what God can do for me? 

No, we can't offer animal sacrifices anymore, but we can offer the sacrifice of our time in prayer for the lost. We can fast and paray for a world that's going to hell. It's so important that we remember that the minute we toss our feet over the side of our bed in the morning, we must put on our priestly robes. Whether we go to school, or stay at home, or go to a job, we are priests to every person we meet.

It's a new mindset for me. A different way to look at my purpose on earth. But it has changed the way I look at life and at people. I am God's representative! What an awesome responsibility! And I must know God's Word so well and know Him so well, that I am ready with a good answer to anyone who questions me, that I'm ready with a word of comfort, of love, of forgiveness. That I let people know I'll pray for them.

I must be Christ on earth.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?  2 Corinthians 1:14-16