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| Volume 20 Number 7 July 2018 | Page 4 |
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| Volume 20 Number 7 July 2018 | Page 4 |
Ronald D. Reeves
Most who may read this article will probably be Christian men and women, who upon becoming Christians no doubt understood that baptism into Christ (Galatians 3:27) was not the end but the beginning of a life dedicated unto Christ. This entails knowledge that our Lord requires much of us in this life, even though things in life may discourage us from doing the will of the Lord. This “much” required by the Lord requires Christians to be a forgiving people (Ephesians 4:32). However, some things may discourage us from so doing.
Though forgiveness may be challenging to practice, may we always be committed to maintaining a spirit of forgiveness so that we may forgive others as the Lord so directs.
A Faithful Priest
Mark McWhorter
In 2 Peter 3:5, we are told that Christians are a holy priesthood. Every Christian is a priest (Revelation 1:6). Under the Mosaical Law, only men could be priests. However, women and men are priests in the church. Every person, whether black or white or Chinese or Egyptian or able to walk or paralyzed, can be a priest if the person becomes a Christian.
We know that the priests under the Old Law performed sacrifices. The sacrifices they gave to God were animals in many cases. An animal had to be killed and placed on the altar. Christians perform sacrifices as well. Christians do not kill animals and place them on an altar. Instead, Christians pray, sing and give. Those go up to God as sweet-smelling sacrifices. Christians also make themselves living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
Some professed Christians say that there really is nothing a person has to do once a person is a Christian. They say there are no works, commandments or regulations that God requires. That was not the case under the Old Law, and that is not the case under the New Law either. God has always required service and obedience. Even under the Patriarchal Law, individuals had to be obedient.
This obedience principle is stated very well in 1 Samuel 2:35, where it says, “And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever.” God desires priests who follow Him. God desires priests that bring their hearts and minds to follow Him. Only those who do according to his commandments are faithful.
Study your Bible. Learn all you can about God’s will for us. Then, follow His commands and regulations. Make sure you are a faithful priest. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.