在西奈山,耶和华指示摩西告诉以色列人,他们要顺服神,遵守神的约,好使他们成为“祭司的国度和圣洁的国民”。
遗憾的是,没有人能够完全遵守神的律法。因此,神最终差自己的儿子耶稣基督来代替他们,将他们从罪恶和死亡中拯救出来。事实上,耶稣是来舍命赎罪的。因此,祂是所有凭信心信靠祂之人的主和救主(约 3:16-21)。
在启示录第一章中,约翰解释说,耶稣藉此“使我们成为国民,作他父神的祭司。”这意味着,作为耶稣基督的信徒,我们在世上代表了神的国。我们蒙召成为人与人之间的中保(祭司),将耶稣和神国度的好消息带给世人,向各方各族的人传扬神和祂的爱。藉着耶稣,我们可以毫无阻隔地来到神面前,认识祂,学祂的样式。面见神不再局限于专职的、地上的祭司。而是所有信靠耶稣的人都可以来到祂面前。
“但愿荣耀、权能归给他,直到永永远远。阿们。”
全能的神,我们奉耶稣的名侍奉你。我们唯独敬拜你为主,并作为你的代表、你的祭司服侍这世界。祈求你以你的灵装备我们,使我们完成你交给我们的使命。阿们。
出埃及记 19:1-6;启示录 1:4-6
1以色列人出埃及地以后,满了三个月的那一天,就来到西奈的旷野。
2他们离了利非订,来到西奈的旷野,就在那里的山下安营。
3摩西到神那里,耶和华从山上呼唤他说:“你要这样告诉雅各家,晓谕以色列人说:
4我向埃及人所行的事,你们都看见了;且看见我如鹰将你们背在翅膀上,带来归我。
5如今你们若实在听从我的话,遵守我的约,就要在万民中做属我的子民,因为全地都是我的。
6你们要归我做祭司的国度,为圣洁的国民。这些话你要告诉以色列人。”
4约翰写信给亚细亚的七个教会。但愿从那昔在、今在、以后永在的神和他宝座前的七灵,
5并那诚实作见证的、从死里首先复活、为世上君王元首的耶稣基督,有恩惠、平安归于你们!他爱我们,用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶,
6又使我们成为国民,做他父神的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他,直到永永远远!阿们。
"To him who . . . has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." — Revelation 1:5-6
At Mount Sinai the Lord instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel that they were to obey God and keep his covenant and that they would be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
Unfortunately, no one was able to keep God's law perfectly. So eventually God sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to be their substitute, saving them from sin and death. In fact, Jesus came to lay down his life to pay for all human sin. So he is the Savior and Lord of all who trust him in faith (John 3:16-21).
In Revelation 1, John explains that in this way Jesus "made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father." This means that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are kingdom representatives to the world. We are called to be mediators (priests) with people by bringing the good news of Jesus and of God's kingdom to the world, introducing people everywhere to God and his love. Through Jesus, we have unlimited access to God to know him and to be like him. Access to God is no longer limited to a formal earthly priesthood. That access is now open to all who come to faith in Jesus.
"To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
In Jesus' name we serve you, Almighty God. We worship you alone as Lord and serve your world as your representatives, your priests. Equip us with your Spirit for the task you have given us, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳