via TJC
“True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”
—Malachi 2:6-7
Even after being a Christian for many years, I didn’t feel worthy to be the man who spoke truth to others. Even after I had been involved in church for a long time, I didn’t feel I had any right to do more than simply sit in a pew and throw a little money in the plate. Even after being discipled by another man and even trying to lead and disciple some others myself, I still felt inadequate.
Maybe you have some of those same feelings. Maybe you feel like a poser as a Christ follower, looking good on the outside but not feeling good enough on the inside.
Well thank God for His word and men who will help us understand it. As I slowly, oh so slowly, began to let God's word and his promises sink in, I began to understand I don’t work my way into being worthy. Worthiness is part of the gift Christ gave us from the cross and then the empty tomb. We can’t earn it. We can’t do enough to deserve it. He just offered his life for us, and we just have to accept it.
Now scriptures like this one from Malachi simply become job descriptions for us as Christian men. One of the men who has continued to disciple and mentor challenged me to memorize this passage. It’s the role he has called us to. It describes the man we are now worthy to become. The apostle Peter gave us a title about 400 years after Malachi wrote this job description.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
—1 Peter 2:9
Does it freak you out a little that if you are a Christian you are chosen by God? That you are a royal priest? That you are a citizen of a holy nation (and that doesn’t mean the U.S.)?
Daily Battle Order:
Put on your big boy pants and step up to your title of royal priest (we call it being a Kingdom Man in the Joshua Commission). Take your job description seriously and know God has made you worthy to fill the role. Then get to work making it obvious to others that you walk in peace and uprightness with the God of the Universe.
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