Royal Priesthood

Royal Priesthood.  These two words have been tumbling around in my mind and my heart for the last three weeks.  I went to a retreat with our staff team and during a prayer time, a woman I respect, prayed over me and she used these words...  Since then, I can't get them off my brain.  And not just the words, but what they mean and how that changes my life.

"They come from this verse, '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

I think this is a pretty loaded verse.

So in my thinking...if I am part of a royal priesthood, how does that change how I live?  What does someone who is royalty live like?  My mind first goes to cartoons and movies.  (I know, not how I want to define my life.  But they do have a point.)  Think of Cinderella.  She was a princess and she was a servant.  She was beautiful on the outside, but her heart won over the hearts of her people.  Same with Pocahontas.  And Snow White.  Belle too.

The other thing they have in common is that they were "normal" girls who became princesses.  They related to other normal, every-day people.  They did not view themselves as better.

They also did the right thing.  I don't know what Snow White did, but the others saved others (their dad or their people) from harm or they stood up to the "bad" people.

I'm not endorsing Disney, those are just the first princesses that come to mind. :)

Then I think of Esther.  She did all those things too.  She was beautiful.  She stood up to her King (husband) to save her people.  Her people loved her because she loved them. 

A princess has a position of authority and leadership.  A princess is followed and trusted when she does not forget her position, but at the same time lowers herself from her throne and walks among the commoners. 

Priesthood--appointed spiritual leader.

Christ was the perfect example.

I know that as a Christian, I am supposed to be a servant and I am supposed to share the Gospel, and my heart should be so changed by Christ that those things are not "supposed-tos" but desires.  And they are...mostly.

My perspective changes though when the words "royal priesthood" are used.  They seem more pointed.  I have a measurable definition of what my life should look like.  And I think, I don't quite live up to the royal priesthood I am a part of.  And I wonder, what in my life and my heart needs to change so that I acurately reflect this position?

Thoughts on this whole thing?