SATURDAY, December 8
SHEPHERD, SAVIOR, AND KING
This Christmas, find your way to the manger; bow before the King who came to save us. HE IS OUR KING.
The Bible declares in Revelation 17:14 that Jesus is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. What does this mean for you and for me? Power. Dominion. Ruler. Judge. The title “King” recognizes that one has power to exercise absolute dominion over His realm. What is the realm of Jesus?
Is His realm just the realm of history? Some would think so as they only see Jesus as an historical figurehead of the church. Is His realm only a realm of the Bethlehem nativity? Sometimes our culture acts this way when Jesus is only honored or worshipped at Christmas. Is His realm only for the religious? Again, some are confused about this, and see no relevance of Christian living beyond the walls of the church. None of these tell the truth about His kingly realm.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; all things are subject under His feet (Ephesians 1:21). During His crucifixion, Jesus was mocked as King of the Jews. But, God has said that all things are subject to Jesus; so, Jesus is King of all – all authority, all names, and all nations. Jesus is King of all.
Can you think of a King in history who was not a subject to something? All kings who have or who will ever live are a subject to something. If a king is not a subject to other people, then he is a subject to time and mortality. No king or kingdom of man rules in absolute power and time; there is always a limit. But, in Jesus we see a kingly rule that is over all time and all power. He rules as the only sovereign King.
This advent Season, come before your King and worship. The Magi, men of high honor, forgot themselves and their importance; they came and bowed before Jesus bringing offerings of praise and worship. What will you lay aside today, right now, that will allow you to bow before Jesus as your King? Does He truly rule and reign in your life?
The human heart (spiritually speaking) can become a shrine for our own desires and dreams, our pursuits and self-made purposes. This Christmas Season, allow the truth of Christmas to tear down whatever you have built as the shrine of your heart; return to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Come before the King.
Read: Ephesians 1:18-22; Psalm 136:1-26