A Kingdom of Priests Who Do Not Worry

The other day two biblical teachings that aren't usually associated together became associated in my mind. I can only assume this was the work of the Good Counselor helping me to further understand the good news. They are Christ's command to not worry and the teaching that the body of Christ is a kingdom of priests.

Currently I am reading my way through the book of Leviticus. Why, you ask? I am seeking Christ in the Law, of course. My Lord said himself "I did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill every letter of it." Therefore I should be able to find him in every chapter of Leviticus. I'm finding him here and there, but that's not my point. While reading through Leviticus I am noticing all the ways that God provided for his priests.

• "When this goat is sacrificed, the priests are to eat the leftovers. It is their share."
• "When grain is offered, bake it into cakes. The leftover cakes are to be eaten by the priests, it is their share."
• "When a wave offering is offered, the priests are to eat the leftovers, it is their share."

The entire life of the priests who were serving involved sacrifices all day long. They didn't have time to go out to Meijer and buy groceries. They didn't have the opportunity to work a part-time job. They were hard and work from sunrise to sunset and sometimes more working for the Lord. And what did God ever do for them? Oh, how about give them food, and drink, and an income (eventually a temple tax was instituted). It was part of the Israelite community life that the priests were taken care of.

Jump to the New Testament where in Hebrews the followers of Christ are called a royal priesthood. Each one of us who follows Christ has the responsibility of being a priest in this world, interceding for the sins of the unbelievers. Working on their behalf to invite the presence of God into their lives so that the Holy Spirit might turn their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.

And if we are priests, and we are hard at work working for the Lord, who provided for his Old Covenant priests, will he not provide for us, his New Covenant priests. The priests of the Old Covenant had plenty of food. Some of it they had to eat that very day. Sometimes they could save some for the next day, but they had to eat it on the next day or it was bad. The priests did not store away. They had to trust that God would keep them well-fed.

So, too, Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, "Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will drink or what you will wear." Did he not take care of his Old Covenant priests? Yes, he did. That's what we have the Old Testament books like Leviticus, to show us the very blessings and provision of God Almighty. So now as his new royal priesthood he will take just as much care of us and so much more.

So do not worry about tomorrow, oh, my sisters and brothers of the royal priesthood. Tomorrow will worry about itself and the Lord has planned for it in advance. Each day has enough worry of its own. My the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be with you. And may he give you his peace. Amen.