Every Christian is a minister and called to function as a priest, ministering to the Lord and to people wherever they are at. This privilege and responsibility is know as the doctrine of The Priesthood of All Believers. It is something which Martin Luther advocated during the Reformation, at a time when the role of the Catholic Priest was exalted and corrupted in many ways.
Two major verses that this biblical doctrine is extracted from are:
“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…But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:5, 9 ESV)
Christian, this means you’re a priest and apart a priesthood. You are chosen as God’s very own special people called out of darkness into His marvelous light for purpose of proclaiming God’s excellencies.
When you go to work remember that you are apart of “a royal priesthood” and you’re “called” to minister right there in your context. When you are gathered for corporate worship with the saints remember that you are a priest and minister. The “work of the ministry” is not just for the pastor or the worship leader. Many Christians think that full time Christian ministry is “where it’s at” but really the “work of the ministry” wherever you’re at is “where it’s at”. And the role of spiritual leaders is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Most of the of the Body of Christ is not in full time ministry, nor can be and God doesn’t call them to be. God wants His glory manifested throughout the whole earth, in every area of influence, through all kinds of vocational work.
So portray and proclaim the excellencies of God right where you’re at. Love and serve people right you’re at. Pray for and practice the one another commands of Scripture right where you’re at. May you live for God’s glory and the good of others in whatever God-ordained vocation (calling) He has you in. Be a priestly plumber, engineer, artist, janitor, carpenter, mother, doctor, nurse, salesman, manager, architect, landscaper, roofer, waitress, chef …or whatever vocation God has you in. Whatever you do, do it with all your might for the glory of God (Ecc. 9:10, 1 Corinthians 10:31).