Dear Priest is a series to encourage those who serve in the house of prayer, whether as missionaries or volunteers. God has much to say specifically to those who minister to Him in His house!
I’ve been a full-time intercessory missionary for 6 years, and I was a student in the house of prayer for 4 years before that. In that time of giving myself fully to this calling, I’ve had plenty of moments where I felt like other blessings or opportunities were passing me by. I was single for the vast majority of that time, always renting a bedroom in someone else’s house and raising support to live on a missionary budget. When other people were taking steps to move their lives forward, I felt like I was perpetually 22, getting a decade older but still in the same life position. And I knew for a fact it was mostly because of my narrow focus on giving myself to the house of prayer.
Whether or not this is your exact story, you may be able to relate to feeling like your life would be very different, in some ways a lot more comfortable, if you weren’t locked into the house of prayer lifestyle. Maybe you’ve struggled with comparison when others around you seem to receive certain material blessings that just don’t really seem accessible to you within the boundaries of this life. I admit, when my younger brother got married and bought a house, I had to wrestle with God a little bit! That could have been me if I hadn’t said yes to this.
The passage has has most encouraged me in this struggle is Psalm 16:5-6.
“The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)
The language of this Psalm is a direct reference to the inheritance that was given to the Levites. God promised certain portions of land to each tribe of Israel as their inheritance, but to the tribe of Levi, who were set apart as priests, He gave no land inheritance, because He Himself was their inheritance. In the priesthood, they had the unique privilege of access to the presence of God. (Nu. 18:20-26, Dt. 10:8-9)
As a modern-day priesthood, we can claim this promise for ourselves. When we are set apart as priests to minister to God, He rewards us with the most precious gift He can give— Himself. This is true for all believers, not only house of prayer people, but we experience this reality more as we embrace our priestly ministry to God.
The boundary lines were the markers that designated a certain tract of land as belonging to an individual or a family. I’ve sometimes heard this verse used in the modern sense of boundaries being behaviors that you’re not allowed to do, but historically, it literally described the amount of property you owned. The psalmist is saying here that the allotment of blessings God has given him in his life is good… because the chief blessing is God Himself.
It’s okay if God hasn’t given you the house or spouse or dream job you want.
It’s okay if other people have blessings you don’t.
What He’s given you is good.
He’s given you the honor of the priesthood.
He’s given you Himself.
What’s more, the psalmist, who is actually David (a non-Levite!), says that God is his “chosen portion.” This inheritance can be chosen! It’s not just for those born Levites… and it’s not just for full-time intercessory missionaries. Under the New Covenant, we all choose to join Jesus’ new priesthood, and we can all choose to lay hold of this inheritance in our lives now.
So how do we choose it?
Mary of Bethany shows us how. Jesus said that by sitting at His feet, she had “chosen the good portion” (Lk. 10:42). I did the research to confirm it: the Greek word for “portion” (merida, Strong’s G3310) is the same word specifically used in relation to inheritance in the New Testament and also the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Jesus is identifying Mary in the priestly role of ministering to Him with her time and attention, and therefore He Himself is her portion that will never be taken away from her.
As believers who collectively are a kingdom of priests, we receive full access to the presence of God, both now by the indwelling Holy Spirit and in eternity in His presence. However, just as the Levites were given a unique inheritance in the presence of God, and as the Psalms and Jesus said this portion could be chosen, there is an invitation awaiting anyone who chooses it to experience more of God as our inheritance. For us as dedicated priests serving in the house of prayer, often feeling the pinch of other things we are “missing out” on in order to say yes to this calling, let’s remember and be encouraged that the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places and God Himself is our portion!
You are my great reward
You’re who I’m longing for
My beautiful inheritance, Jesus
You’ve given me Yourself
You’ve given me Yourself
You’ve given me Yourself
You are enough
–“You Are My Great Reward” by Christina Reynolds
You are my portion, You’re my portion
When I lay down my life
You’re my portion, You’re my portion
–“My Portion” by Isla Vista