Taking Ground | Week 3
Day 2:
“And He has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father.” — Revelation 1:6
When God told Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan, He didn’t send him alone. The priests were told to go first, carrying the ark of the covenant — the visible symbol of God’s presence. Their role was to step into the river before anyone else, to walk by faith so that others could walk on dry ground.
That image says something beautiful about how God leads His people. The priests weren’t superheroes; they were servants. Their calling wasn’t to draw attention to themselves but to lift high the presence of God so the whole nation could follow safely. They went first not because they were better, but because someone had to believe first.
But it wasn’t just the priests who had a part to play. Every Israelite — from the youngest to the oldest — moved when the priests stepped forward. The miracle required partnership. The presence was carried by the priests, but the promise was for everyone.
That same dynamic still exists in the Church today. God still calls some people to carry spiritual vision — pastors, missionaries, disciple-makers, teachers. He calls others to carry spiritual provision — leaders in the marketplace, entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, parents. One calling is not higher than the other. One is not sacred while the other is secular. Both are holy.
That’s why Revelation describes God’s people as a “kingdom of priests.” The phrase holds both ideas together. The “priests” represent those who lead spiritually, pointing people toward God. The “kings” represent those who lead practically, generating resources and influence that expand God’s work in the world. Both are anointed, and both are necessary.
When the priests and kings work together, heaven touches earth. Vision and provision meet. Faith and action link arms. The Church becomes whole.
Think about how this plays out in daily life. Maybe your calling looks like preaching or mentoring. Maybe it looks like running a business with integrity, creating jobs, or funding a ministry that changes lives. Maybe it’s parenting with prayer, or teaching in a way that reflects Jesus’ heart. All of it is sacred when it’s done in partnership with God.
The problem is that we often compare callings instead of celebrating them. We look at someone else’s role and think, “They’re more important. They’re closer to God.” But in God’s design, there are no second-class callings. The same Spirit empowers each of us differently, but purposefully. The same God who anoints a missionary to preach in another country also anoints a believer to lead a company with honesty and compassion.
When Israel crossed the Jordan, the priests stood in the middle of the river until every person had passed safely to the other side. That picture is worth holding onto. The ones who carried the presence stood steady so that the rest could move forward. That’s what real spiritual leadership looks like — not being in front for recognition, but standing firm for the sake of others.
And yet, notice what happens after they cross. Once everyone is on dry ground, the priests come up out of the river, and the water returns to its normal flow. The miracle ends, but the mission continues. God never meant for His people to live dependent on one group doing everything. He calls all of us to carry His presence wherever we go — into classrooms, offices, boardrooms, neighborhoods, and nations.
That’s what it means to be a kingdom of priests. The pastor’s sermon and the business leader’s generosity both echo the same heartbeat: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” The missionary and the mechanic stand side by side in the same story of grace, each bringing their gifts to the work of God.
So, what does that mean for you today? Maybe it’s an invitation to see your work differently — not just as a job, but as ministry. Maybe it’s a reminder to support your church leaders with prayer and encouragement, recognizing that their faith often leads the way for others. Or maybe it’s the challenge to honor both callings — priest and king — in your life and community.
When priests and kings unite, the supernatural becomes natural. Vision finds provision. Faith meets faithfulness. And just like Israel at the Jordan, God’s people move forward together into promises too big to reach alone.
You might not carry an ark across a river, but you carry God’s presence into every space you enter. Whether you lead a church or a company, a classroom or a home, your calling is sacred. The Church doesn’t move forward on the strength of a few; it advances through the partnership of many — priests and kings, side by side, each walking in the lane God designed for them.
When those callings come together, the impossible starts to look possible again. God’s people move in unity, His presence goes before them, and His glory fills the earth.
