“What would it look like to stop treating Jesus as simply a role model and start serving Him as our sovereign king?” Blog post Reasonable Theology

Good Question.
Jesus is the ruling Monarch (Sovereign) of the universe.
His rule is established in His humanity by the fact that He was born of David. His rule is demonstrated by the fact that death could not hold Him. Death is man’s greatest foe-yet even death could not defeat Jesus.

So what does this mean to me?
When it comes to government, we Americans tend to think in terms of a constitutional Republic. We are grateful we have the chance to vote in our rulers to represent us (supposedly). We are grateful we have a voice in the establishment of laws that govern us. We are thankful we can even run for elected office if we so choose.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a Constitutional Republic. Jesus doesn’t reign because we vote Him into office. Mankind can’t impeach Him either. He rules by the power of His own person- Jesus is King.

Now, in one sense His rule is not complete. Yes the battle has been won and the victory is His. But death is not yet completely abolished and so for now this earth is still enemy held territory (Hebrews 2). One day this will change- he will return and abolish death and win the final victory.

Until then how do we view Him? Kind of like a big brother that we look up to and is sort of a role-model for our behavior? Or rather as the Sovereign Lord who commands our allegiance. When He says “follow me” He’s not simply speaking like a big brother inviting us to follow in His shoes; no He is speaking like a battlefield general who leads His men over the top and into the fray.

Follow me is the command of the Sovereign Lord of the universe. Are we huddled in the trench fearing the conflict? Or are we climbing the ladder and leaving the trench and engaging the foe?

Because of grace,
Tim

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“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices…”
Psalm 16:8,9a

It’s hard to believe a new year is upon us!

As you look back over 2018 I am sure you like me have many memories to catalog in your brain. Some triumphs no doubt and some setbacks for sure. Perhaps it was a year of great change for you. Maybe you are new to Star Valley and are launching on a new phase of your life. Maybe you took a new job, bought a new house, or made some new friends. Maybe it was a year that took you through some deep trials and testing’s.

As we stand at the precipice of a New Year we always wonder what it will hold. There are many things that will come our way that are completely beyond our control. These we must trust to the goodness of our Wise Father who dispenses all things according to His will. Everything He brings into our life is ultimately for our good and for His glory. To this truth we must cling tenaciously.

However, there are some aspects of the future that are completely within the bounds of our “choice.” We can choose to be a more devoted Husband and Father. We can choose to spend more time in prayer and Scripture reading. We can choose to forgive someone we have held a grudge against. We can choose to invest in the life of someone around us. These and many other choices are ours to make. We can also choose to make poor decisions and slip into mediocrity. The choice is ours.

In Philippians 2 we find that it is “God that is at work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure.” I am trusting that the Lord is willing for us to grow deeper and stronger in 2019. Let us also trust that He will enable us to ‘do’ that which He desires us to accomplish for His glory.

Because of grace,
Tim

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