A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO SERVE GOD
A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS TO SERVE GOD
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. —Revelation 1:5-7
Jesus has freed us from our sins through His finished sacrifice on the cross— one time for all! (John 19:30; Hebrews 9:26; 10:12, 14; I John 2:2). He has made us a kingdom of priests to proclaim the gospel and “the praises of him who called (us) out of darkness into his wonderful light” (Romans 15:16; I Peter 2). Are we? This is not a special “class” of Christians that are to be serving this way. No, it is all who are saved (Romans 10:13).
The next time Jesus comes it is to gather His own to Himself and bring judgment on those who do not want anything to do with Him. They will mourn and wail at His coming—
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” —Revelation 6:15-17
This time is coming. It will happen. Jesus is coming again. Let us live faithfully for Him until He comes or until we shed this body and are present with Him. We, as followers of Jesus, will give an account to Him for the way we lived for Him (II Corinthians 5:1-10). “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13). “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (I Peter 2:16). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMTfj4xOjZk
Yes, dear Father, may I faithfully proclaim Your gospel and Your praises. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son, Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=28s