“What About Everyone Else?”
This is an adapted excerpt from Square One, Session 12. Check out the full Square One series here.
Have you ever started a new job where nobody gave you a clear job description? You show up ready to work, but you have no idea what you're actually supposed to be doing. It’s confusing, and you probably spend most of your time just trying to look busy. We all crave purpose, and we want to know what our “job” is here on earth. The good news is that God doesn't leave us guessing. He gives every Christian a special role and a divine job description — and it’s not about blending in or staying quiet.
In his most famous sermon, Jesus gives us two powerful images for this new job. First, he calls us “the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13). Salt’s whole purpose is to bring flavor and preservation. If we, as Christians, lose our distinctiveness and completely blend in, Jesus says we become as useless as flavorless salt. Then, he says we’re “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14-16). You don't light a lamp just to hide it. The whole reason light shines in the dark is so people can see. He tells us to let our good works shine, not for our own glory, but so that others will see our actions and give glory back to our Father in heaven.
The Big Idea
God sends us into the world to reflect his light in the darkness. The Bible is blunt about this: the time for living like everyone else is officially over! We’ve already spent enough of our lives doing “what the Gentiles want to do” — chasing sinful passions and running with the wrong crowd (1 Peter 4:3). Because our purpose has radically shifted, our old friends may be surprised and even speak badly of us for no longer joining in (1 Peter 4:4). Don’t let their comments discourage you; a changed life is a noticeable life.
This new role comes with an official title. The Apostle Peter calls believers a “royal priesthood.” You might picture a religious leader in special robes, but in the New Testament, “priest” is the job description for every single follower of Christ. So what does it mean for us to be a “royal priesthood” today?
First, priests offer “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5). Since Christ’s death covered our sin once and for all, the greatest offering we can bring is our own life. Paul urges us to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,” which he calls our true worship (Rom. 12:1). It means giving God everything — our time, talents, hearts, and minds.
This requires holiness, which simply means being "set apart" from the world for God's special purposes. It’s an inward reality that shapes our outward actions, giving us a reason for the hope we carry — a hope we should always be prepared to explain to anyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15).
But what are we set apart for? We are called to be God’s representatives. Peter says we are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood ... that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We’re God’s ambassadors, sent to show and tell the world how great He is.
The main way we do this is through service. Jesus set the ultimate example, teaching that in God's kingdom, greatness is found in becoming a servant to all (Mark 9:35). Whether it’s in our jobs, homes, or communities, we’re called to do our work heartily “as for the Lord” (Col. 3:23). This is what God has always wanted — not empty ritual, but a heart of “steadfast love and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
Being God's priest isn't a passive title; it’s an active, world-changing calling. It’s your divine job description, and it invites you to bless the world in his name.
The Big Question
Do you see how Christians have a special purpose in the world? May God’s name be glorified in us to the ends of all the earth!