Valerie Rae Hanneman
Revelation 5:10 (NIV) “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth.”
I want you to take just a moment and think about the three or four people who have made an impact on your life. Now here is the kicker – it cannot be Abba/Jesus/Holy Spirit or any of your family members. It just got a wee bit tougher, didn’t it?
Let me tell you about four people in my life. The first would be Joann Lewis. I worked with Joann and I could hardly stand her. She was so constantly perky! About 12 years ago she started inviting me to her church. She asked me often, but after her church got this new preacher, the woman became relentless. I finally went to her church in the hopes that it would satisfy her and she would leave me in peace. But was there peace for me? The next person was that preacher Joann kept talking about. My first Sonday at Fresno First Baptist was when Willie baptized Joann’s husband, Scott. I was a master at hiding behind a false face, an expert at making sure that the real me was hidden from view. Because I was so good at maintaining what was false, I recognized the real thing when I saw it. The smile on Willie’s face as he baptized Scottie was the real thing. I watched Willie’s joy and knew that nothing in my life had ever caused me that much joy. Was there joy for me? A few Sonday’s later, along comes Judi Wright. The woman did not understand the concept of personal space/boundaries! She walked up to me and hugged me! After an abusive partner, I hated the thought of anybody but my children touching me and this woman I did not know just flat out hugged me and told me she was glad to see me. And heaven help me, she kept on doing it! Although I didn’t understand the Christian concept of agape, Judi was teaching me about a love that was different from the family/friends/sexual love that I was used to. Was there this type of love for me? The final person was Samee Myers. Samee was one of my Sonday schoolteachers and the woman cried at the drop of a hat. As a person who had an ironclad rule against crying in public or in private (no exceptions), I found her to be a little unsettling. The more I watched Samee the more I realized that her tears were not a weakness, but the strength of a tender heart that lived for God. Was there tenderness for me?
When I think of a priest, I think of a Roman Catholic priest or a Buddhist priest. But priests have been with us since the beginning of religion. A priest is simply somebody who is set apart to serve what ever god they happen to believe in. In most instances these priests are serving in a full time position. When Abraham defeated the kings who had kidnapped his nephew, Lot, in Genesis 14 he offered his tithe to Melchizedek, the high priest of Jerusalem. When God gave the Israelites the Law He set aside an entire tribe – the Levites – whose sole job was to serve as His priests. But what about today – who are God’s priests today? Well, immediately we have to think past the normal view of priests and say that Willie is a priest – he is set aside full time to serve Jesus. Terrie Purgason, Bryan Hitch, Chris Aycock, Dan Gates, Eugene Wright, Dale Bethell are all priests in our community of faith. Is Kristin Navarro a priest? She isn’t ordained – but she works full-time set apart to serve in children’s ministries. How about Jessica Pittman? She is also employed full-time to do God’s work. So I would say that they are priests as well. You know who else is a priest? You and I are priests. Just as God, in the Older Testament, set aside a tribe of people to serve him, Jesus has also set aside a tribe of people to serve Him. And that tribe is us – all of us who are called by His Name. Truly the only difference between Willie’s priesthood and my priesthood is that I am kind of a priest in disguise. Unlike Willie’s job title – Senior Pastor – there is nothing in my job title that says that I am a priest but I am a priest, nevertheless. Jesus gives us the title in 1 Peter 2:9 when He called us “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” Although the world may not see my priesthood, it may be disguised from them, I am Jesus’ priest. He has set me apart to serve Him full-time. Like Willie, my priestly duties are at my worksite, in the grocery line, in my house, when I am pumping gas into my car, and most challenging of all, when I am cut off on the freeway.
The four people who impacted my life do not have a lot in common. One is a legal secretary, one is a professional Christian, one works for the Salvation Army and the last is a retired teacher. Three are women and one is a man. Two are younger than me, two are older. What these four have in common is that they are Jesus’ priests and they are willing to be used to serve His purpose. Each of them was used to impact me in a different way. Joann invited me and invited me and invited me. She never gave up on me. Willie allowed his joy in Christ to be apparent. Judi welcomed me – a stranger. Samee taught me to be open, tender and to be a woman after God’s own heart. Different people, different roles, different methods, but all priests called to serve. How have your three or four people impacted your life? How have they been priests to you?
Because Joann is a priest I found peace is for me. Because Willie is a priest I found joy is for me. Because Judi is a priest I found love is for me. Because Samee is a priest I found tenderness is for me.
Who is looking at me and how am I being a priest to them? How is my priesthood to Jesus being revealed in my every action, word and thought? Although I am a priest in disguise, my life should make my priesthood the most evident part of my life.
LORD Jesus, let my peace, let my joy, let my love and let my tenderness, that are the wonder and the center of my priesthood to You, be revealed in everything I do.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of FFBC at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at February 26, 2008 05:24 AM