A Royal Priesthood | Living Set Apart for His Glory
Key Thought | You were chosen to draw near, not to stand at a distance. As part of God’s royal priesthood, you are called to live set apart: reflecting His holiness, carrying His presence, and proclaiming His goodness to the world.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9
There is often a gap between what God says about us and what our lives actually look like. We may know the verses that declare our identity in Christ, but do we live as though they are true? It’s one thing to hear how God sees us, but quite another to let that truth transform the way we live.
In Exodus 19, before the law was given and before the Levitical priesthood was established, God made a profound declaration to His people:
“If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” —Exodus 19:5–6
God’s original intent was for the entire nation of Israel to be priests unto the Lord, a people set apart to reflect His holiness and represent His goodness to the world. The people initially responded with enthusiasm:
“All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (v. 8)
But when the moment came to encounter God’s presence, their response changed:
“All the people perceived the thunder and lightning flashes… and when they saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.’” —Exodus 20:18–19
The same people who agreed to be God’s holy nation now stood at a distance, afraid to draw near. They chose a mediator instead of intimacy, a safe distance instead of the closeness God desired.
It’s heartbreaking to see that the God who delivered them, sustained them, and invited them into covenant relationship was met with hesitation and fear. Israel settled for a transactional relationship rather than embracing the covenantal relationship God always intended.
But through Jesus Christ, what Israel stepped back from, we are invited into fully. In Him, God has made us a royal priesthood, not because of our merit, but because of His mercy. He has delivered us from darkness into His marvelous light and restored direct access to His presence.
Now the question becomes deeply personal:
Will we live as those set apart?
Will we consecrate ourselves—our time, our hearts, our priorities—to reflect His glory?
Will we lean into His presence and allow His voice to shape our identity and purpose?
Don’t let someone else be the voice of God for you. Don’t stand at a distance when Jesus tore the veil so you could draw near. You were made for communion with Him—to know Him, hear Him, and reveal Him.
Prayer | Father, thank You for calling me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Thank You for choosing me to be part of Your royal priesthood—a people set apart for Your glory. Forgive me for the times I’ve stood at a distance, content to let others draw near in my place. Help me to live in the truth of who You say I am. Teach me to lean into Your presence and listen for Your voice. May my life proclaim Your excellencies and reflect Your holiness to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Journal | Reflect and Respond to the following questions.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” —1 Peter 2:9
There is often a gap between what God says about us and what our lives actually look like. We may know the verses that declare our identity in Christ, but do we live as though they are true? It’s one thing to hear how God sees us, but quite another to let that truth transform the way we live.
In Exodus 19, before the law was given and before the Levitical priesthood was established, God made a profound declaration to His people:
“If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” —Exodus 19:5–6
God’s original intent was for the entire nation of Israel to be priests unto the Lord, a people set apart to reflect His holiness and represent His goodness to the world. The people initially responded with enthusiasm:
“All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” (v. 8)
But when the moment came to encounter God’s presence, their response changed:
“All the people perceived the thunder and lightning flashes… and when they saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.’” —Exodus 20:18–19
The same people who agreed to be God’s holy nation now stood at a distance, afraid to draw near. They chose a mediator instead of intimacy, a safe distance instead of the closeness God desired.
It’s heartbreaking to see that the God who delivered them, sustained them, and invited them into covenant relationship was met with hesitation and fear. Israel settled for a transactional relationship rather than embracing the covenantal relationship God always intended.
But through Jesus Christ, what Israel stepped back from, we are invited into fully. In Him, God has made us a royal priesthood, not because of our merit, but because of His mercy. He has delivered us from darkness into His marvelous light and restored direct access to His presence.
Now the question becomes deeply personal:
Will we live as those set apart?
Will we consecrate ourselves—our time, our hearts, our priorities—to reflect His glory?
Will we lean into His presence and allow His voice to shape our identity and purpose?
Don’t let someone else be the voice of God for you. Don’t stand at a distance when Jesus tore the veil so you could draw near. You were made for communion with Him—to know Him, hear Him, and reveal Him.
Prayer | Father, thank You for calling me out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Thank You for choosing me to be part of Your royal priesthood—a people set apart for Your glory. Forgive me for the times I’ve stood at a distance, content to let others draw near in my place. Help me to live in the truth of who You say I am. Teach me to lean into Your presence and listen for Your voice. May my life proclaim Your excellencies and reflect Your holiness to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Journal | Reflect and Respond to the following questions.
- What truths from 1 Peter 2:9 stand out to you most about your identity in Christ?
- In what ways have you been standing at a distance from God’s presence or voice?
- What does it mean for you personally to live as part of a “royal priesthood”?
- How can you practice drawing near to God daily rather than letting others mediate your relationship with Him?
- What specific area of your life do you sense God inviting you to consecrate or set apart for Him today?
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