On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.

- Exodus 19:1-6

God promised Abraham would be the father of nations who would live in the Promised Land (see Genesis 12:1-3 and 15:18-20), and God acted on His promise. He heard the cries of His people, delivered them from bondage in Egypt and led them towards the Promised Land. In the passage above, they take a break from their journey to rest at Mount Sinai, God’s holy mountain, and commune with God Almighty.  

God brought them to His holy mountain for a reason. As God explains the purpose behind His action, He begins by asking His people to recognize His holy hand at work in their lives, to see and remember what He has already done for them and to believe and trust that He will continue to act. He brought them to Mount Sinai so that they might hear and obey His voice, experience His glory and be His treasured possession. God wanted His people to engage in relationship with Him and to move forward as “a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”

God delivered His people from bondage with a purpose in mind. Peter, writing to followers of Christ dispersed around northern Asia Minor, explains that God delivered them, and by implication you and me, from bondage for the same reason: He desires relationship with us, He calls us to move forward as His representatives, and He calls us to Him to be His treasured possession. Just as He led the Israelites to meet Him at the holy mountain, He urges us to “Come to him … to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

What does a holy priesthood, a holy nation, a priestly kingdom look like? I imagine a bunch of people seeking God, desiring relationship with God, living in communion with God, serving Him, treating others, even strangers, with hospitality and compassion and love. I imagine a community whose distinctive characteristic is God’s holy light, life and love revealed through their actions.  

I commonly hear folks bemoan the disunity, lack of civility and caustic attitude woven through public discourse across our nation. At times we seem to be a society governed by mob mentality rather than civil debate, exchange of differing viewpoints based on facts, and sincere pursuit of a better society for all. As we discuss thoughts such as these, I conclude that this is one of the fundamental points of the Good News of Jesus Christ. While we must vigilantly defend and protect our freedom, true change occurs one heart at a time through Christ Jesus. Can you imagine a society characterized by peace, unity, compassion, hospitality and love – a holy priesthood?  

Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). In his song Imagine, John Lennon sang, 

Imagine all the people living in peace, you
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one.

Lennon’s imagined world sounds like a realm characterized by Christ Jesus’s peace and unity. It sounds like a holy priesthood.

Today we typically use the word “priest” to describe a person employed by a religious institution, but in the passage above the word does not refer to occupation. It denotes lifestyle and character. A society of people employed by the church, managing offerings and sacrifices would not sustain itself, but a community of holy people living in communion with God and revealing His love while they are out in the world working other occupations is certainly sustainable.  

God calls us to be holy, pure and righteous, but I continue to ponder what that looks like. What do holy people look like to others? How do we identify a holy priesthood existing in our presence? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says,

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16-20

And on the evening of the Last Supper Jesus says,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

A holy priesthood would be a society of people characterized by compassionate, loving service, by good fruit, by holiness. God’s holy word explains that holy people live holy lives; they behave righteously; and sinful people behave sinfully: 

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 1 John 3:7-8

If it is true that each of us is a sinner, that we all fall short of God’s glory and that no one is holy except God, how do the concepts fit within the duality of the passage? We are each sinners, but when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin in our lives, do we repent or do we continue living sinful lives? We are each on the path moving towards God, towards holiness, perfection and sanctification, but I know that I have far to go. Participating in a holy priesthood does not require perfection; it requires continued movement forward along the path towards God.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” In a world bearing elements of disharmony, as we seek peace and unity, it is nice to see the truth presented in Scripture, that Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work and to give us His peace.

God delivers people from bondage for a purpose. He has plans for you and me. Throughout Scripture, God explains that He delivers people from bondage so that they, we, might enjoy relationship with Him. God explains this time and time again. He delivered His people from bondage in Egypt and guided them to His holy mountain so that they might commune with Him. He begged them to hear His voice and to be His people and to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Peter returns to this image and explains that God delivers you and me from bondage for the same reason: He desires relationship with us. Just as God urged the Israelites to meet Him at the holy mountain, He urges us to “Come to him … to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  

May the Body of Christ be characterized by unity, peace and compassionate loving service. May we be one and may we each be united as one with God in the same way the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one. May you continue seeking Him, desiring Him, and allowing Him to reveal His glory through you.