The Priestly Kingdom
“You shall be my treasured possessions… the priestly kingdom.” God’s plan for Israel was to live as a holy example to the world, the nations. But when His people reached the promised land of Canaan they got comfortable, complacent, and they began to resemble the world. They were no longer the priestly nation. Thus, Israel is now a servant-priest. It must never equate to superiority. God people must live in a broken existence for the sake of others. He is forcing them to live among the nations, and to bear judgment.
God’s people had it made, and they blew it. But, He did not give up on them, he loved them too much to leave them on their own, and to let them forget about Him. Just as he loves us too much to leave us to the same fate. It is a great reminder, if we only turn to God in times of need, then I guess God’s only choice is to keep us in need!
When we act like the world around us we lose our ability to represent God to the world. The challenge. Will God’s people, the Church today, relinquish control and claim brokenness in front of the world? Will the Body Of Christ bear more for the sake of others? Will we live among the poor and suffering, lose our status, appear weak? Will God’s people believe that the role of the suffering servant is the lead role in the unfolding drama of salvation?
So as I read these pages, I had to ask myself, am I wiling to sacrifice? It seems to me that we must be again willing to be a wandering people. That it is in the desert that God will raise up His people again. That we have gotten too comfortable in our world of laptops and cell phones. Turing to the world for success and validation, turning to our God only in times of crisis. So I accepted the position on the 2007 World Race team. As I saw that God lifted his people up while wandering in the desert, so my desert will be Mexico, Argentina, Nicaragua, Peru, Africa, India, China, Cambodia and Thailand.
I challenge those of you reading this paper. What will your desert be? Perhaps you are in the desert now, perhaps for you it looks like a divorce or a job loss. What is your response, are you in bed with the covers over your head? Are you turning to alcohol or gambling? Are you taking your anger and aggression out on your family? Are you wondering where God is? Perhaps, just maybe, it was God that brought you there. Bringing you to the desert so that you can stop at the edge of your own River Jordan to remember Him, to come back to Him, to rely on Him, so that he can build you up again, turn you into a priestly nation. Let us be willing to go to the desert with God, to again be a wandering people, not waiting. We must be looking forward, and discovering the role God has for us in this exciting drama of life!
I ask those of you who have been blessed financial to prayerfully consider joining my World Race team as a financial supporter by clicking “Support Me” on the left. And, please share this article with others by clicking “Tell a Friend.”
