(In 2017, I wrote this series for the 40 days prior to Easter to prepare our hearts and minds for the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. I’m reposting the series now for the 40 days after Easter to encourage us to follow through, living in the risen Savior and King.)
As I said in yesterday’s devotional, if you’ve been reading the devotionals over the past six days, you know we’ve been looking at specific ways that the gospel of Christ is revealed in the creation week – ways that Jesus also calls us to love, since He created us in His image.
If you’re just tuning in, I encourage you to take some time to familiarize yourself with the principles In the introductory video, Introduction to the eight “P”s of the gospel.
Today, we’re on day two of covering each of Jesus’ three positions (I.e., roles or functions) for which God chose/anointed Him. In fact, there were only three positions in the Old Testament that were recognized by anointment: prophets, priests and kings. And Jesus’ title “Messiah” or “Christ” comes from the Hebrew and Greek word that we translate as “chosen” or “anointed”.
After we finish the three-day overview of those positions of Christ, we’ll conclude this mini-series with a devotional on Jesus’ peace.
Each of these eight “P”s of the gospel build upon and interlock with each other, so we must not leave any out or consider any as isolated from the others. They are like layers of brick on a strong foundation. They are like pieces of a puzzle that becomes clearer as we identify the several scenes and how they fit together.
Because each of these pieces of the gospel picture are so critical and some may be new to you, I don’t want to give you too much too fast. So over each of these three days, I’m only offering a video of my wife and I in a practical discussion about living in Jesus’ image in these roles. Then I’ll provide a few questions to prompt your discussion and prayer. Today’s subject is the position of Jesus as Priest and His call for His people to live in that aspect of His image.
How does Jesus’ complete forgiveness of all of your past, present and future your sins (if, in fact you are trusting in His sacrifice and righteousness and not your own) free you to forgive others for their wrongs against you?
How does the fact that Jesus is the High Priest equip and encourage you to live in His image by teaching other believers in His Word? (Prophets seemed to be responsible to speak “top-down commands” from God to leaders, rebellious believers, and unbelievers while priests were responsible for teach “bottom-up” worship from God’s Word to all of His people)
How would you respond to someone who said that they don’t believe it’s important to pray for others, since Jesus already did that perfectly?
Where are some of the difficult places in your area to which God may have sent you to live then as one of His “priests”?
How does the fact that Jesus is our High Priest equip and encourage you to live in His image by praying for others and helping them with their holiness?
Where in Scripture do you see Jesus as Priest gracing others with His presence?
Where in Scripture do you see Jesus as Priest confronting others with His plain-speaking?
Where in Scripture do you see Jesus as Priest protecting and providing for others worship?
How do you think that you individually and the Church collectively are living in Jesus’ image as Priest?
How can His people grow as better “priests” to others through His Word?
…through His Body?
…through the local church?
…through His spiritual gifts?
…through His providence?
Unless otherwise indicated, Jeff Dillard is the author of all posts in this blog, the goal of which is your greater joy in Christ through leadership and counseling. Jeff and his wife, Lauren, have been married since 1995. By God’s grace, they have four wonderful children and two grandchildren. Jeff was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America and commissioned as an Army Chaplain in 1998. He has Master’s degrees in Divinity, History, and Counseling. Since 1998, he’s had the privilege of equipping and encouraging others’ faith and service to the Lord Jesus by leading congregations and counseling in multicultural settings across the United States. Seven of those years have been in Germany, Korea, and Iraq. For leisure, Jeff enjoys simple time with his family, exercise, playing guitar and trumpet, and trying foreign foods with friends.
Please note that the contents of tools4trenches do not necessarily reflect specific beliefs or practices of organizations in which Jeff works or worships.
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