CMI 2020 Sealed Orders – Wednesday, August 5, 2020

WATCH THIS VIDEO FIRST, THEN READ THE DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT BELOW.

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The Priesthood – 1 Peter 2:1-12

Have you ever felt like you were left to handle something completely on your own?  And not only were you left alone, but you felt like you were the LAST person on earth who should have been left with such a responsibility?  Well guess what – you’re not the only one!

Let me tell you about a guy named Simba.

Yes, that Simba.  The Lion King.

Simba was born to be royalty!  (Oh I just can’t wait to be king!) He was chosen to lead the pride lands and help keep the balance of the kingdom to ensure for the best for all the animals in the realm.  But mean Uncle Scar got in his head and convinced him that he couldn’t actually do it and that he was a terrible person, mainly so that Scar himself could take over and abuse and manipulate others (Be Prepared!).  So Simba runs away from his responsibilities and decides that by just laying low and taking care of himself, everything will be okay (Hakuna Matata – it means no worries)!  The problem is that since Simba left, Scar started taking advantage of everyone and everything was NOT okay.  So Nala, Simba’s good friend (Can you feel the love tonight?) comes to find help, finds Simba, and urges him to come back and do what he was always meant to do – lead the kingdom!  Simba freaks out, and runs into Rafiki who helps him look into himself and reflect on who he really is and what he’s meant to do.  Flash forward – Simba returns, defeats Scar, restores justice, and everything is back to the way it should be (The Circle of Life!).

Great story, right?  But let’s focus in here.  When Simba is faced with taking up his responsibility as the son of the king, he has to be reminded of who he is!  Rafiki shows Simba his reflection in the water and Simba can only see his father.  Remember Rafiki’s words?  “He lives in YOU!”  Simba was the representative of the kings throughout the ages.  He was the living, breathing manifestation of the kingdom.

When we talk about the priesthood, we are talking about God’s chosen representatives on earth to share the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  The priesthood is made up of people who are the living, breathing manifestation of the Kingdom of God.  And guess who that is?  IT’S YOU.  And me!  And anyone who has received salvation through Jesus Christ, who is living a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God has called each of us to share the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ with the world.  He has chosen YOU to be his representative!  He hasn’t called just officers or those people who just seem super holy.  He has called every single one of us who claim to be his children.  IT’S YOU.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” You have been chosen to declare Christ to the world.  “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God” (1 Peter 2:10a).  Your identity is as a child of God, so you must live as a child of God, declaring His kingdom to the world!

Like Simba, eventually we’ve got to stop staring at ourselves in the mirror and move on to help usher in the Kingdom.  So are you ready to take up the royal priesthood?  Will you declare the glory of God so the people in this world can know and love Jesus? Time to Reflect:

• Do you feel like you are a child of God?  What could help you know this truth more in your life?

• Are you using your life to declare the glory of God and help others to know and love Jesus?

• What can you change in your life to do this more?