Worship

Scripture

The great Kings and Queens of our past rarely got their hands dirty. They commanded obedience and loyalty from their subjects but most of them had no idea what it was like to live outside their castle grounds. Unfortunately, this overwhelming lack of awareness often led to rebellion and the downfall of their monarchies. The truth is, we don’t like submitting to anyone who’s never walked a day in our shoes. If you want true Kingship, don’t separate yourself from your subjects, instead submerse yourself in their cares so you can lead them better. 

As we see throughout scripture, the Lordship of Jesus is different. He is the King of Kings and I for one am thankful he doesn’t operate the same way as the Kings of this world. So how did a perfect God who could command our submission, win it instead? By becoming like us!

Hebrews 2:14-18 says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—  and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Christ didn’t simply sit on a throne and enforce our allegiance through power. He won our hearts by standing in our place. Not only did he face our same temptation but also our same death. Jesus isn’t King for his own pleasure but for the sake of his people whom he serves as High Priest. He is the only King who in mercy, sought to understand our suffering and die for the sake of our atonement. 

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Psalm 121:8

The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time and forever.

 My Protector and Defender is the Lord of angel armies, I will not submit to fear of opposition.

ASK GOD

James1:5

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

 When I dont know the answer in my situation, God does and He is good enough to reveal his wisdom when we ask for it.

SUBMIT TO GOD

Malachi 3:10 NLT

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 

Can we afford to offer just a tenth of our time, thought, money, energy to the Lord. He is ready and willing to abundantly bless the portion that we give to Him.

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear Lord and Savior of mankind, thank you for the Cross! Thank you for the Cross! Thank you for the Cross! Can we say it enough? Say it again: “Thank you for the Cross!”  In Jesus Name, Amen.