always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.” We could shrink the thanksgiving basket project by becoming more discriminating: demanding more proof someone needs the food. We could make sure no one is selling the food for drugs, or we could see to it that no one who has a history of crime gets food. We could demand they come to church services before giving them food, or we could preach the gospel much more strongly, only using the food to lure people to our church. But none of these things would be proper, godly motivation for giving. The best, most godly motivation for giving to others is that God has given so much to us, we cannot contain our joy. Jesus came to save us from our sins, then to ordain us (set us apart) for the salvation of others. Our identity as priests means we: I. Praise and worship Him forever (Ps. 132:5) (see hymn we gather together). The psalm speaks of david, who works to bring the house of God to a permanent structure. He wants a place where God’s glory will dwell forever. But God is above our efforts to contain him. The best way to give him glory is to simply praise him and keep covenant. (9, 12) Live as proof of God’s kingdom, holy in all respects; (describe the working together yesterday as proof of God’s love and our love for others because of God’s love for us.) Witness in the world (ps. 132:12). See also I peter 2:9: “that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” So what are we to do to show forth God’s love? Thanksgiving: Our motivation for life. Serving God as priests: Our role in the world now. The priesthood of all believers in revelation (see 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) is a theme echoed in Peter’s first letter: “…be yourselves built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” What sacrifices? Serving.

What is your motivation for serving? Thanks. How do you show it? Serving. I remember one person in my former church served on trustees. They had a need for a repair at the church, and he took it on to do it himself. When he was finished, he let me know: “ fixed that for you.” I felt sad, thinking that if his motivation was doing it for the pastor, then something is missing. He should be doing it for God. We all like recognition of others, and words of thanks for doing what we do. But ultimately, our motivation should be for God. Otherwise, when the pastor leaves, or when you get mad at the pastor, or just plain don’t like him or her, you stop serving God. “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.” Yesterday, who were the priests and who were the common servants of God? Heirarchy: Priests coordinated it all; held it all together. Maybe the Dunhams were the priests and the rest of us were the servants. Hold it; I never saw a priest wearing a cowboy hat! Start over. Maybe the youth leaders were the priests and the youth were the servants, taking the boxes out the parking lot on carts and wheelchairs. Oh wait, priests work in the temple, not with the youth group. Try again. The kitchen workers, baking bread all day Friday, and the donut makers who fed the workers fine delicacies; these were the servants the pastors who took part were the priests. But who was calling the shots?