During the Mosaic dispensation, the priest of God was part of a specific group of people who came from the tribe of Levi (Hebrews 7:5).  It did not matter what kind of ability you had, if you were not from the tribe of Levi, you could not be a priest of God.

While it was a privilege to be among God’s priests, there were responsibilities involved in the office as well.  One of the primary duties of the priest was to offer sacrifices for the people.  The continual obligation regarding sacrifices was typified by the constant fire that could be seen on the altar.

Leviticus 6:13 (ESV)
¹³  Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.

Today the priesthood of God is not given to just a few among His people, but, instead, is the position of all believers in Christ.  One thing that remains the same is our obligation to offer sacrifices to God.  While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, our sacrifices are real.

1 Peter 2:5 (ESV)
⁵  You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What are some of the spiritual sacrifices that we, as God’s priests, offer today?  I would say that it begins with the offering of ourselves to God.  The saints of Macedonia gave us an example of this.

2 Corinthians 8:4-5 (KJV)
⁴  Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

When we first give ourselves to the Lord, all the other sacrifices that we must offer come much easier.  To give yourself to the Lord involves a commitment of the heart.  It is to make up your mind that you are going to serve God with all your strength, using whatever talents He has given you for His glorification.

Once we are determined in our minds to serve and sacrifice for God, most of our duties as priests will come naturally.  We will live according to God’s moral instructions.

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
¹  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

We will also worship God consistently with other saints, praying and singing praises to Him.

Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)
¹⁵  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Another sacrifice we will offer is financial.  We will give monetarily to the cause of Christ and the furthering of the gospel.  The saints at Philippi did that through their financial support of Paul’s preaching efforts.

Philippians 4:18 (ESV)
¹⁸  I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

As priests of God, let us make sure that the fire of the altar never goes out.  Being a priest is a great blessing, but it is a responsibility as well.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.