The Priest and The Word
Superman had his fortress of solitude and as a Christian, we have God’s Word as our refuge and sustenance of our mission as a Priest. God’s Word contains the power of transformation. In Psalm 18 verse 1-2, David writes:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
In our Mission Field, one way we lead as Priests is when we point people to the God of the Bible. As we spend time daily seeking God’s will in scripture, we are transforming our minds to God’s eternal Truths. We cannot give away something we do not have, so we need to stay connected to God through spending time in His Word. In a busy life, it is often hard to find the time to study God’s word. But as Priest’s, it is essential to prioritize a consistent bible reading routine that exposes yourself to the full counsel of God, both New and Old covenant, and allows yourself to consistently delight in His Presence via His Word. A regular discipline of Bible study is necessary to fulfilling your role as the Priest in your mission field.
We live in a world that is inundated with messages about what is true, what is good and what is beautiful. In Romans 12:2, Paul writes:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
As Christians, we believe and know that God’s word is the source of what is true, good and beautiful. When we spend our time delighting in God; he begins to transform our minds so we can see the world and the events of our day with clarity. When the great fathers of the Christian life are studied, one commonality between all of them is a lifelong obsession and saturation in God's Word. The time spent in God’s word allowed leaders in the church to leave a rich legacy of truth that is still with us today. What a blessing to have friends, mentors and examples from church history that prioritized time in God’s word.
What is your current reading plan? How is your time and devotion to meeting God in his word? Does your schedule reflect the affection of your heart to spend time in God’s word? If you do not have a reading plan, I would challenge you to set up a plan today. There are many great Bible apps and reading plans online. Once, you pick a plan, consider inviting someone to join you in the study. One thing a Priest consistently practices is inviting people into an encounter with God’s word. You also may want to begin memorizing scripture and locking God’s word in your heart. Start with John 1:1 or begin memorizing the promise of God found in scripture. Once you invite God into this adventure in his word, you better hold on friend, you are in for a grand adventure!