Called To A Holy Priesthood

In his book, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray incites us to take up our noble calling to be priests and intercessors for the world around us. He calls it “our circle” — the people that we influence and care for personally. Since each believer has his own individual circle, the world is in need of intercessors that can reach more of the lost and the hurting — the world needs you. To be a priest for the people is not only for the Church in general, but for your particular area of influence as well. I will try and sum up what Andrew Murray says of our duty.

As every son of Aaron, so every member of Jesus’ body has a right to the priesthood. It is the highest privilege of a child of God, the mark of greatest nearness and likeness to Him. Every priest is ordained for men in things pertaining to God (Hebrews 5:1; see also Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 21:5; Deuteronomy 33:10).

In the Old Testament, the walk of the priesthood was in harmony with its work — as God is holy, so the priest was to be especially holy. This means not only separated from everything unclean, but holy unto God, being set apart and given up to God for His possession. Their life was to be one of total faith — they were to live on Him as well as for Him.

All this is the emblem of what the character of the New Testament priest is to be. Our priestly power with God depends on our personal life and walk. We must prove that our consecration to be HOLY TO THE LORD (Exodus 28:36; Zechariah 14:20-21) is whole-hearted and entire. This marks the true priest, the man who only lives for God and his fellow man.

Are you willing to offer yourself for this holy work? You know the surrender it demands — nothing less than the Christ-like giving up of all, no longer content to have salvation and just do work enough to keep warm and lively. Thoughts of unworthiness or unfitness need not restrain you. The Blood provides an infinite worthiness to make your prayers most acceptable; and the Spirit provides a divine fitness, teaching you to pray according to the will of God.

You will not only join in the general prayers of the Church for the world, but will also be able in your own circle/sphere to take up your special work in prayer — as priests, to transact requests with God, to receive and know the answer, and so to bless in His Name.

Come and be a priest, only priest, all priest. Seek now to walk before the Lord in the full consciousness that you have been set apart for the Holy Ministry of Intercession. This is the true blessedness of conformity to the image of God’s Son.