God promised Abraham he would become a great nation that would be a blessing to all nations.  In order to be a blessing, Abraham’s offspring were called by their  God to be “a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). Priests represent God to the people and that was Israel’s calling to the world as they lived in covenant under God’s rule.  In their light the nations would see Israel’s God as the Blessed One who blesses.   Priests also represent people to God and that too was Israel’s calling under God’s rule. They were to hold all nations before their God for blessing.

In this covenant calling Israel foreshadowed Christ. He is the Royal Priest who gathers to himself a new covenant people who are a blessed with every spiritual blessing in him.  And also a blessed people empowered by the Spirit to become a royal priesthood for the blessing of all nations.

This new covenant priestly calling is ours.  We represent our God to all people as we live before them in the blessing of our Father in Christ by the Spirit.  And we also represent all people to our God as we hold the world before our Father within the sphere of his promised blessing.  This we do in union with the Father’s Son through the intercession of his Spirit within us.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

  and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father,

to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

(Revelation 1:5-6).