The Way Of LifeSample

Secular and Sacred         

That every believer was a priest unto the Lord was such a profound insight that it changed our lives completely. It started with the concept of worship. We learned that it was our privilege to minister to God with thanksgiving and praise and offer ourselves to Him in worship. It took a while, but soon the Church was truly embracing our assignment to minister to God. But still the line remained in people’s thinking as it pertained to employment. That’s the line that said one job was secular and the other was spiritual. For example, if someone worked in a school as a teacher of children, it was admired but was not considered spiritual. The same was true of any other occupation outside of public ministry. In reality, there is no secular job for a believer. In all honesty, I’ve met people whose approach to their job in business is more holy than some I’ve known in their approach to pastoring. It’s not the task that makes it holy. It is holy entirely based on the One who called us to that task, giving us His commission. His call is always holy. My approach to the call determines my effectiveness. Once we say yes to the responsibility, it is sanctified by the One who gave us the assignment. I would never want to lower the esteem given to the missionary, etc. I simply want to raise the value for all who have said yes to the call of God, whether it is full-time evangelistic work or to be a missionary, or a dentist, or a stay-at-home mom. Saying yes to God is the big deal. It is the daily yes to God that sanctifies the work.

Apply

How does understanding that every believer is a priest affect your view of your vocation or calling?

BIBLE

• 1 Pet 2:9
• Matt. 5:13