February 27 - 1 Peter 2:5

God is building you,

as living stones, into his spiritual temple.

What's more, you are God's holy priests,

who offer the spiritual sacrifices that

please him because of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5

 

Under the Old Covenant -- see Numbers 3:10 -- the Lord said to Moses, "any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death."

 

Under the New Covenant -- see 1 Peter 2:5 -- YOU ARE the sanctuary. You are the spiritual temple. And you are "God's holy priests."

 

This is a HUGE contrast. Why the dramatic difference? Christ!

 

Jesus Christ is a very different kind of high priest. He confers priesthood and royalty not on the basis of birthright, but on the basis of faith. He invites -- Hebrews 4:16 -- to "approach the throne of gracewith boldness" rather than with fear. And he promises that in this faith-inspired approach, we will "receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

 

In Christ's Love,

a priest

(and not because I went to seminary,

but because he invites us all to be one!)