GodReflection: How About a Better Way?
On January 14th the Danish announced the ascension of a new Ruler to the throne in Denmark. King Frederik X with his wife Queen Mary begin their rule. Over the centuries around the globe—in all nations and tribes—rulers
come and go. In my lifetime I have witnessed hundreds of rulers in my cities, state, country, and across the world, leave their post to another.
This morning as I write, my nation is in the election process for our next Presidential ruler. Current opinion poles indicate the next ruler will not be the choice of approximately fifty percent of the people. Our culture tells us we can rule ourselves; we don’t need others to rule over us—especially those who don’t agree with us.
With all the rulership traffic and the negativity, Jesus’ exclusive appointment as Eternal and Supreme Ruler of mankind and the universe is easily overlooked.
Even the religious aren’t exactly against him, it’s just that we humans work extremely hard to keep him out of first place. We may like him but refuse to let him rule our lives. Some simply don’t have room for Jesus within their lifestyle or belief system.
Then there is the ease with which we believers allow ourselves to place the primary focus upon our church tribe. Too often we become so loyal to our church tribe that we leave Jesus in 2nd place rather than allow him to be our ruler.
Many years ago, I sat at the bedside of a friend who radiated Jesus. There was a time when his name was a household word across the homes of my church family. This godly old preacher now in his late 80’s, sitting on the side of his bed was near death.
He spoke in prayerful confession with moist eyes and a quivering voice, “I’ve preached for over a half century. My greatest regret is that for the first 20 years I failed to preach Jesus.” His words describe those time when far too many of us fail to recognize the total and complete rule of Jesus.
The good news we are to proclaim is Jesus came to rule. He is perfect and sinless. His church is holy. When I pledged my allegiance to him his grace turned its constant flow over my sin-filled life. That makes me a member of his perfect body and an eternal recipient of his grace. That is the very message that exalts Jesus to center stage. That is the message that makes his rule our rule. We become one with Christ Jesus.
Rather than spend energy to collect victory points so that I can prove my church tribe is better than your church tribe, shouldn’t I spend time and effort to keep the stage lights focused on Jesus and his rule? I hope I write in a spirit of confession rather than a spirit of judgment. I am thankful that God’s grace is rich and deep beyond comprehension.
I am grateful His grace is so abundant that it covered those many times when I forget—it’s Jesus who rules. I am not the king of me, nor is my church family my governing body.
I make a lousy king of me. When I set my own kingdom rules, I lower the gold standard for me. The problem is when I appoint myself ruler, I don’t lower the bar of my expectations for others.
When my fallen persona kicks in as self-appointed opinionated ruler, it is all too easy to judgmentally maintain my expectation bar elevated for others while at the same time set it at lesser level only for me. That is one of many reasons why Jesus makes a better King of me and a more gracious ruler.
For hundreds of years God promised to send a son of David to rule His people. David was a good king. Christ, the son, is the perfect King. David died and the people placed him in a Jerusalem tomb. His reign ended. Christ the King was killed by the people, yet he arose from a Jerusalem tomb to reign forever.
That same Jesus Christ wants to be my King and my ruler. He sets the gold standard for righteousness. His gold standard does not fluctuate.
When I reduce His standard in a weak moment, He steps forward with a tear in his eye from disappointment and with love in His heart from heaven. He directs His love toward me. He pulls from his blood treasury the gold coins I lack and covers my shortage.
Isn’t that the ruler we all seek from the depths of our hearts? Why do we resist his rule after he consistently proves time after time, he loves us and desires our best interest?
He is the ruler who never leaves the throne. King Jesus gives us free access to the throne room. He make an agreement with us that as long as we honor Him as ruler, He will honor us the citizens of his Kingdom.
He even adds to the deal. By making his rule our rule, we become members of the royal family. Perfection is not required of family members—only love and a heart that does not want to disappoint the King. He is the King we need. Today let’s do our best to serve Him.
The last thing we desire is to provoke tears of disappointment from the eyes of our royal king who loves us so much that he would face death to protect us. What are your reflections on your relationship to the King? Do you recognize his rule? Is his Rule our Rule?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on His Rule Our Rule.
God Reflection 