Royal Priesthood

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

We are a royal priesthood. This is certainly something interesting to consider. Before Jesus came to die for our sins as the ultimate sacrifice, only the Levite priests could enter into the tabernacle to intercede for the people to God. The Holy Spirit dwelt between the wings of the cherubim on the ark inside the Holy of Holies. This elite group of men were the elect who could talk to God. After Jesus died on the cross, the veil that lead to the Holy of Holies was torn, never to impede God's people again from interacting directly with Him. If we are saved by the blood of Jesus, we now act as our own personal tabernacle since the Holy Spirit dwells inside each of us. We can go to God anytime we wish to commune directly with Him and receive His gracious blessings. A Levite priest no longer has to go to God for us and then come out to bestow blessings upon us. There is no need for the Tabernacle with the Holy of Holies because we are now God's dwelling place! I think many Christians today take their ability to commune with God for granted. They just trust that they are His child, and then do not "worry" about whether they will be with Him for eternity in Heaven. We should consider it an honor and a privilege that we can go to God anytime anywhere. Wikipedia defines privilege as "a special entitlement or immunity", so when you think about prayer remember that God Himself granted you special entitlement to come to Him. He wants us to come to Him, that is why He sent Jesus to rid the world of its necessity to keep all of the laws originally laid down for them. Remember what an honor and a privilege it is to go to God directly to build a relationship with Him so that when you get to Heaven you will have many crowns to cast at the feet of Jesus.