By Barbara Rainey
First posted on EverThineHome.com
Have your children or you ever acted bossy over a younger brother or sister?
Were your parents heavy handed and authoritative?
Has a friend you thought was a friend actually been more of a master?
Maybe you played for a coach who acted like a dictator or a 5-star-general.
Our world is full of small kingdoms, small dominions ruled by small lords who control others to make themselves feel strong or powerful. We see them in alleyways, in schools, in workplaces, and even in churches. Often those who want to lord power over others are insecure, weak or fearful, yet they brandish authority in order to appear important and in control.
Yes, God has given us institutions with leaders for our good. But sadly those in positions of authority too often create their own little kingdoms at their followers’ expense.
But this kind of rule is not like our God.
In 1 Timothy 6:15, the apostle Paul describes Jesus as “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” Note that “Lord of lords” is paired with “King of kings” because they are inseparable like two sides of a coin. Jesus could not be King over all if He is not Lord over all.
Jesus is not like any of lord we experience in life which is why He is named Lord of all lords.
He is infinitely superior because He is perfect in every attribute, therefore His rule is perfect and always good and in love.
Jesus, sent from God, came to rescue and release us from the domain of darkness. When we make Him Lord of our lives we are set free from our destiny with spiritual eternal death and are placed in Him where “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us … ”(Ephesians 1:7-8).
An engraved invitation, stamped with the seal of the King, waits with your name on it. In His limitless love and grace this invitation is always extended to you. The King of kings and Lord of Lords waits with patience for your response.
But the time is near for His return to earth and one day it will be too late to respond to His invitation. Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done” (Revelation 22:12)
This Christmas will you receive His gift?
Will you make Him your Lord?
The One who “on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) is coming soon. May you and yours belong to the kingdom and lordship of Jesus Christ!
Merry Christmas!
My Heart, Ever His: Prayers for Women (NEW from Barbara Rainey)
As we search for meaning in our world of shallow online relationships and glamorized selfies, many are returning to traditional and liturgical churches. The repeated words, benedictions, and historic hymns connect us to saints who have gone before, giving us a sense of belonging, richness, and transcendence. Written prayers, once cast off as archaic, are now welcomed as guides to tune our hearts to the heart of God.
In My Heart, Ever His Barbara Rainey shares 40 prayers for women. Readers can read and meditate on one prayer throughout the week or read a prayer a day for 40 days as a way to express the longing of our hearts to our Father who loves us even as he sees who we truly are. Like the psalms of David, these prayers are honest, sometimes raw. Barbara uses these transparent expressions of common female experiences to encourage us to surrender to Christ and help us see God as he is, not as we assume him to be. My Heart, Ever His provides a stepping-stone to help you become more transparent with God and discover his welcoming embrace.
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