1 Peter 2:5a
...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...
A lot of times when we look at our pastors/ministers, we can tend to feel that they have a special spiritual connection that we just don't seem to have. However, did you know that God intended us all to be priests? It's kind of mind-blowing, isn't it? But look at what 1 Peter 1:5a says: "...you also, like living stones are BEING BUILT into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood..." A house doesn't just become a house--it has to be built. Just like a house, we are a "spiritual house" that gets built over time. It is a process. So, what are some things that can help your "spiritual house" to be built? Well, look at your pastor as an example. He/She prays, reads the Bible, studies the Bible, etc. They didn't just automatically become a pastor. Over time, they became pastors. Again, it is a process.
What else does a priest/pastor do?
1 Peter 5:9:
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
When you look at this verse, it doesn't seem so complicated. We declare what God has done for us. We praise him and give him the glory. The way our culture is now, we have access to many ways to tell what God has done: phone, text, in person, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. We can all share what God has done for us, in us, and through us.
Revelation 5:10 says: "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." Looking ahead to when God establishes his kingdom in heaven and on the earth, we will be a part of that kingdom. We will serve him as priests and we will reign on the earth. We won't do this in our own power or by ourselves. We will reign with Jesus--he will be in us and we will be in him.
So, does God expect us all to quit our jobs and become priests/pastors?
If God has specifically called you to be a priest/pastor, then the answer is yes. But, for the majority of people, the answer is no. So, how do we make sense of this? Think of a godly man or woman that you know. What do they do for a living? Chances are, they do not have a vocation as a priest/pastor. However, they do "preach" in our lives. They tell you what God has done for them and they declare God's praise.
God calls us all to do certain things--this is a universal calling. But, he also has a specific calling for each of us. God calls ALL OF US to be priests, but not everyone is called to the vocation of priest/pastor. You may be called to be a doctor, or an engineer, or a counselor. But, you are universally called to be a priest.
In his book, Chase the Lion, Mark Batterson says:
"...His unique destiny was serving the president of the United States; of course his higher calling was serving God. No matter what you do, you are a priest first and foremost. You certainly have a job to do, but you also have a calling to fulfill. If you are a Christ follower, you are part of the royal priesthood. That means you are a priest- entrepreneur, priest-athlete, priest-entertainer, priest-politician, priest-coach. Your portfolio is your pulpit. Your company is your congregation. And that goes for your team, your class, or your organization."
Keep in mind, Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord WHATEVER YOU DO, and your plans will succeed." In other words, whatever you do, give it over to God first and you will be successful. I encourage you to pray more, read the Bible more, study the Bible more, discuss Scripture, apply it more, etc. These things will help you be "built up" more into the spiritual house you are called to be.