Troublesome Times
01/20/10
But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that
you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter
2:9)
We are living in troublesome times. The dear people of Haiti have experienced a crisis that is beyond description. Terrorism continues to take innocent lives around the world. Our nation faces many challenges. Perhaps you have faced hard times from a job loss, family crisis or some other stress.
It can seem overwhelming at times. Where do we find hope? In this one verse in I Peter we are reminded of a wonderful truth. When you give your life to Jesus Christ you become a child of God, a disciple but also a priest. As a member of the royal priesthood you have constant access to the King. When you see a need in someone’s life or in your own life, you don’t have to find an intermediary or enlist another priest in order to gain a hearing from the King. Your position as a royal priest allows you direct access.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 625-34 not to worry about all these things. Yes, you are going to be concerned. But Jesus says you don’t have to live your life in constant anxiety and fear. In Matthew 7 Jesus encourages us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
As a priest you have unlimited, 24/7 access to God. Jesus encourages you to come into his presence and pray for others and for your own needs. Every day you can enter the presence of God and talk with Him. He wants to listen to you and He wants to share his heart with you.
Always be aware of the danger of rushing through your day without spending time with God. Whatever your responsibilities may be, through Jesus Christ you are first a child of God and a priest before God. When you ignore the Lord in your life you do so to your own detriment.
Often in times of crisis people realize they are not self sufficient. Today, remember who you are in Christ Jesus. You are a child of the King. You are a disciple. You are a high priest before God. The Lord wants to carry your burdens and replace anxiety with peace and weakness with his strength.
Rest assured that as you come before God that you will be heard and God promises to work in your life. Don’t let the enemy rob you of spending time with God. In Christ you are a priest and you have access to the Lord who loves you unconditionally.
We are living in troublesome times. The dear people of Haiti have experienced a crisis that is beyond description. Terrorism continues to take innocent lives around the world. Our nation faces many challenges. Perhaps you have faced hard times from a job loss, family crisis or some other stress.
It can seem overwhelming at times. Where do we find hope? In this one verse in I Peter we are reminded of a wonderful truth. When you give your life to Jesus Christ you become a child of God, a disciple but also a priest. As a member of the royal priesthood you have constant access to the King. When you see a need in someone’s life or in your own life, you don’t have to find an intermediary or enlist another priest in order to gain a hearing from the King. Your position as a royal priest allows you direct access.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 625-34 not to worry about all these things. Yes, you are going to be concerned. But Jesus says you don’t have to live your life in constant anxiety and fear. In Matthew 7 Jesus encourages us to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
As a priest you have unlimited, 24/7 access to God. Jesus encourages you to come into his presence and pray for others and for your own needs. Every day you can enter the presence of God and talk with Him. He wants to listen to you and He wants to share his heart with you.
Always be aware of the danger of rushing through your day without spending time with God. Whatever your responsibilities may be, through Jesus Christ you are first a child of God and a priest before God. When you ignore the Lord in your life you do so to your own detriment.
Often in times of crisis people realize they are not self sufficient. Today, remember who you are in Christ Jesus. You are a child of the King. You are a disciple. You are a high priest before God. The Lord wants to carry your burdens and replace anxiety with peace and weakness with his strength.
Rest assured that as you come before God that you will be heard and God promises to work in your life. Don’t let the enemy rob you of spending time with God. In Christ you are a priest and you have access to the Lord who loves you unconditionally.