Holy

 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
Exodus 19:6 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.19.6.ESV

Why did God say this, knowing that Israel would fail at this noble calling? Even as God's new covenant people, we don't intercede for the world and live distinctive lives as well as we ought. The Kingdom is Christ's, not ours!

Jesus is the King of His Kingdom, the Great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for His people. Our intercession for the world might be imperfect. Yet Christ makes our prayers acceptable to God.

This verse is true of spiritual Israel, not ethnic Israel. This verse is true of Jews and Gentiles alike who live for the Jewish Messiah and Saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. We're made holy through faith in Him.

We cannot in our own strength live up to this lofty calling. Yet with the help of the Holy Spirit and Christ's intercession, we can be justified before Father God. We're being transformed into the likeness of God, by trusting in Him.

'Our Lord God Almighty, help us to live up to Your holy calling upon our lives. We pray for our world to awake to Your love for it in Christ, before He returns to call His people home, in whose name we pray, amen'

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