You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession...
—  1 Peter 2:9

Thought Of The Day...
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.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, We come before you in humble adoration, thanking you for calling us as your chosen ones, set apart to be priests for your glory. Your word in 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us of our identity in Christ and the high calling you have placed on our lives. We are grateful for the privilege to serve you and be used by you for your kingdom.
Lord, as we journey through this life, guide us to be faithful in prayer, seeking your will in all things. May our hearts be aligned with yours and may our prayers be fervent. Give us a heart of intercession for those around us, that we may stand in the gap and lift up their needs before you.
Help us to live out our priesthood in humility, love, and obedience to your word. May our lives reflect your goodness and grace, drawing others to you.
Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ, who made it all possible for us to be your chosen people and royal priesthood. May we never take this calling for granted.
In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.