by David Sellnow
Martin Luther College has produced various seasonal devotion booklets. For the upcoming month of October 2017, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, the college has published a book of devotions titled, I Shall Not Die, But Live. The full booklet is viewable online. I served as one of the writers for the project. As a preview sample to share with you here on The Electric Gospel, reprinted below is the message I contributed to the booklet.
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“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1
Peter 2:9).
All God’s People Are Priests
Harold stepped into the pulpit and addressed the congregation.
“I am not a pastor,” Harold said. “I never studied at a
seminary. I’ve raised cotton, and now I work for an association of cotton
growers. I am not a professional preacher or public speaker. I don’t generally get up in front of other
people and give talks. So I’m rather
nervous about standing up here this morning.
In fact, if I weren’t behind this pulpit, you could see my knees
knocking!”
That was how Harold began his message on a Sunday when the
pastor was away. The church was a small
congregation, far from any others of its synod.
When the pastor was traveling to a national meeting or other
obligations, church council members would lead Sunday services. Harold’s message on this day focused on words
from the apostle Peter: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1
Peter 2:9).
“All God’s people are priests,” Harold continued. “Priests have the right to approach God
directly; we are welcome in God’s presence.
Through Jesus Christ we all ‘have access to the Father by one Spirit’
(Ephesians 2:18). When we were baptized, we became part of the priesthood of
all believers in Jesus. That gives us the privilege of approaching God ‘with
freedom and confidence’ (Ephesians 3:12), and also the privilege to proclaim
Christ to the world. We declare the
praises of the Lord who brought us out of darkness and into the light, who
rescued us from death and gave us life. We all share in that gospel mission.”
The Reformation reaffirmed the truth that all God’s people
are equal members of God’s kingdom, a universal priesthood of those who pray
and proclaim in the name of Jesus.
Martin Luther wrote, “If a group of pious Christians settled in a
wilderness and had among them no priest consecrated by a bishop, and if they
were to agree to choose one from their own midst to baptize, give communion,
announce forgiveness and preach, such a man would be as truly a priest as he
would be if all bishops and popes had consecrated him. This is why anyone may
baptize and give absolution in case of necessity, which would be impossible if
we were not all priests.”
Harold fulfilled such a role in his congregation in the
pastor’s absence. Each of God’s people
fulfills a more general role of worship and witness in everyday life. God’s Spirit
is with all of his people—all of his priests—as we come to him in prayer and go
for him to others, with news of his grace.
Prayer: Jesus our Lord, we praise you for what you have done for us.
Embolden all of us as your people—a royal priesthood—to come to you for
blessing and to speak for you, extending your blessing to others. Amen.
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