So Close
Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 2:9-10
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession...
Have you ever been close to something but not able to retrieve it? Maybe a package is waiting for you at the post office, but you can’t get there to pick it up. Or maybe something is drifting away in the water, and you can’t reach it. So close—and yet so far.
Is that how you sometimes feel in relation to God? You believe and trust him, but when prayers seem to go unanswered, it can feel as if God has forgotten you.
When we feel that way, it is good to remember that Jesus is our great High Priest. Because of human sin and all the brokenness that comes with it, there is a huge divide between us and God. But Jesus stands as our priest, our mediator who bridges the gap between heaven and earth. He reconciles us with God and invites us to receive the gift of salvation and new life with God forever.
The beautiful assurance we have in Scripture is that God calls us to be priests as well. Priests in the Old Testament cared for God’s people by praying on their behalf and bringing God near to them. And now, because of Jesus, we can draw near to God as priests also.
I hope you experience this in worship today. As you pray and as you hear prayers in worship, you are drawing near to God. The Bible says we are a royal priesthood. It’s a special calling as we pray and intercede for others
Thank you, Lord, for calling us to be priests, for Jesus’ sake. Lead us to be faithful in prayer, seeking your will and interceding for others. Amen.
About the author — Pete Byma
Pete Byma has served as a pastor of congregations in Michigan and in Washington state. Serving now as a pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he is also a consultant/coach for churches experiencing conflict, and he enjoys equipping and establishing people in ministry. He is married to Cheri, and they have four grown children and six grandchildren. Pete is also a registered soccer official and enjoys bicycling.
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