SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST

Every high priest had a number of priests serving under him, to help with the ministry to the people. Since Jesus is our High Priest, He has purified us to serve under Him.

“As you come to Him, the Living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him – you, also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Just a minute later, Peter writes, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

In Revelation 5:9-10, we see, “And they sang a new song (to the Lamb): ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God 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.’”

You are a holy, royal priest under Christ.

And it’s not just you! Every believer in Jesus is a priest. We’re all serving together.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

Priests have two primary areas of ministry: 1) Ministry to God and 2) ministry to others.

Ministry to God

In 1 Peter 2:4-5, he tells us we are to “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.”

Sacrifice (Greek thysia) refers to the offerings to God as prescribed by the law (Luke 2:24) and the giving up of one’s self (Ephesians 5:2) in some way or another.

What sacrifices are acceptable to God?

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16).

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:14-15).

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:1-2).

Praise. Confess His name. Do good. Share with others. Give thanks. Call upon the Lord. Offer your very self. Change the way you think.

These are the sacrifices we are to offer God as His priests.

Let me lay it out in some practical steps. 

• * Sing! + write characters who sing praises to God.
• * Proclaim what God does within your story (redeem, save, comfort, heal, help, etc.).
• * Give thanks! + write characters who are thankful to God.
• * Use God’s name rightly – in songs, prayers, prophecies, dialogue, thoughts, expressions of surprise, chit-chat on social media, etc. Show a reverence for His name and don’t be ashamed to speak of Him as your Lord.
• * Pray! + write characters who pray. Prayers of distress, hope, love, thanks, petition, warfare, lament, joy, fervency. All kinds of prayers!
• * Record answers to prayer, so that you can turn it into praise and thanks. And write the responses of God to your character’s prayers.
• * Surrender yourself to God’s will; daily offer your hands, feet, mind, mouth, heart, and soul to Him as righteous tools.
• * Live in repentance, exchanging your thoughts for God’s thoughts through study of the Bible. Grow in Him.

Sacrifices cost us something. It won’t always be fun or exciting to sacrifice to God. Yet, remember, my friend: God rewards His faithful ones!

Ministry to Others

In Hebrews 13:16, we are commanded, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

These are two sweet and profitable ministries. It brings us into fellowship with God’s people in a way that promotes harmony, grace, and love.

Yet again, it costs you something. Time, energy, money, forgiveness, humility. However, God sees all that you do in His name and He is actively working to bring good in all things (Mark 9:41, Romans 8:28-29). We reap eternal benefits from such sacrifices! These things weed out selfish ambition, pride, envy, and apathy from our lives and enable us to be even more fruitful for the Lord.

There is another ministry we have to the people.

“They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23).

“‘Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord, Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”

We are holy priests. Holy means “set apart.” We are set apart for the Lord in Christ. Separate from the world, the devil, and the flesh with all their unclean desires, lusts, and pride. Our lives – our stories – must show that marked difference. Else, how will others (Christian or not) learn how to distinguish the difference?

Let me lay it out in some practical steps. 

• * Be eager to do good + write characters who are, too! (Titus 2:11-14).
• * Consider others more highly than yourself + write characters who do! (Philippians 2:2-5).
• * Share your audience with other writers. Don’t hold back in fear that people will leave you “for someone else.” Trust that God is bringing the right people in the right season to read your books and others’ books. Remember that you cannot supply all their reading needs and we must live in the interdependency God’s kingdom thrives on.
• * Share what you have to give to readers and writers alike (your prayers, freebies, feedback, reviews, advice, encouragement, a listening ear, a song, speak Scripture into their lives, etc.)
• * Write characters who share their very lives with each other. Model it through story.
• * Don’t follow all the trends and tropes. “Test everything. Hold on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
• * Write in relationship with God, not just for the story. He will guide you into deeper levels of holiness.
• * Showcase light, peace, love, grace, redemption, etc. in your stories, marketing, book covers, social media posts, newsletters. Don’t shirk from the difference you have within you and your story because of Christ – put it on display!

WILL YOU SERVE UNDER THE HIGH PRIEST?

Writers pen a whole more than novels and short stories. Newsletters, freebies, social media posts, interviews, blogs, reviews, personal emails/DMs, etc. IN all of these avenues, we must keep our positions as priests under the High Priest, Jesus.

You are a holy, royal priest. It’s inextricably who we are in Christ.

Let’s write like we are!

Comment below: Share other practical ideas for distinguishing between the holy and common, clean and unclean! What do you do? What have you seen others do?