Day 404: The New Temple Priesthood - Devotional

The Return ^ | February 3,2022

[metmom]

Please carefully read Ezekiel 44:15–16; the prophet is referring to a man named Zadok who served as a priest during David’s reign. The Hebrew name Zadok means “right or righteous.” This righteous man never wavered in his faithfulness to David or to the Lord. He stood by the king and by God’s Word through thick and thin. Zadok always remained loyal to David because he knew the king was the Lord’s anointed.

Because Zadok remained faithful through everything, he came to represent a ministry distinguished by its faithfulness to the Lord. Indeed, Zadok was a prime example of a true minister of God: separated from this world, shut in with the Lord and consistently hearing from heaven.

True new temple priests are faithful to stand before the Lord before they ever stand before the congregation. They spend precious hours in the Lord’s presence until they’re saturated with a message that’s been burned into their souls. When they emerge from God’s presence, they are able to speak straight to the people’s hearts because it has come directly from God’s throne.

The Lord says of the Zadok priesthood, “These ministers will enter my sanctuary and stand before me. They shall come near to my table and minister to me. I’ll be faithful to direct them, and I’ll give them my word for my people.”

Indeed, we see the “priesthood of believers” echoed throughout the books of the New Testament. John tells us, “[He] has made us kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 1:6, NKJV).Peter writes, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

You may not have ministerial credentials from any church body. You may never have been to seminary or preached a sermon. You are still as called and ordained to serve in the Zadok priesthood as the most well-known preacher or evangelist. Both Testaments make it abundantly clear: Each of us is to hold the office of priest and perform a priest’s duties.

How are you to do this? You do it by ministering primarily unto the Lord. You offer up sacrifices of praise and service to God, turning over to him all your heart, soul, mind and strength. He’s called you to be part of his royal priesthood.

[metmom]

The Return ping

[marron]

I agree. Any mature believer should be growing into his role as priest. Most of us don’t see ourselves in that light, probably for many the word carries baggage, but we should.

I see “prophet” in much the same light. Particularly with pastors and elders, as you mature and start to sprout gray hair, you should find yourself growing into that role as well, just as a result of walking with God over the decades. I know it doesn’t seem to happen all the time, but again it should.