Really, Who's Reigning in Your Life?

Really, Who’s Reigning in Your Life?

“Everybody else has one. It’s cool. They get to see their king in parades, riding the palace chariot. I bet the local yokels feel good when they see their king walking on the royal red carpet, with the scepter in his hand and big crown on his head surrounded by his loyal servants, bodyguards and palace officials. Best of all, it must be reassuring when war breaks out to see their king calling the shots and taking control. They must feel more confident and better about themselves. We need a king.”

But you have a king, don’t you?

“Nah, not really. Samuel tells us we have a king but we can’t see him. It’s sort of embarrassing to just have a simple old prophet speaking on behalf of the King – especially when times are so tough and situations are so complex. And the prophet’s sons are not satisfactory so we need a change. There must be more to national leadership than our circuit travelling prophet.”

And so the Israelis demanded to have their own tangible, touchable, seeable king. No longer were they contented with just prophets and priests. Samuel was crushed to think that the people were demanding their own king.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us.

And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Samuel,

Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee:

for they have not rejected thee,

but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

(1Samuel 8:6-7)

“Samuel, don’t take it personally. The real issue is far different than what the people are saying. Deep down, the problem is they are rejecting me as their King. No longer do they want to yield and surrender to Me. They want to put their own person on the throne. Someone just like themselves who will give them what they want. But Samuel, be sure to warn them of the consequences of the choice they are making. There are long-lasting and far-reaching, not-so-nice side effects with which they will have to live. ”

And the Lord allowed them to have their own king.

Who is reigning in your life? Can you truthfully say that you are bowing to the Lord’s will, surrendering to Him and honoring Him with the choices you are making? Or have you re-crowned yourself as the monarch in your life? Calling your own shots. Doing what pleases you. Kissing your own toes. Saluting yourself saying: “Yes, I am doing what I want to do. I’m happy!”  You may be happy but is God happy?

Romans 6 provides a flashback into our lives before we were saved – when sin and self reigned supreme on the throne of our lives. We surrendered and yielded to our appetites, lusts and desires. When we trusted Christ, we stepped down and surrendered fully to Him and crowned Him as the Lord and Saviour of our lives. Our intent back then was to obey Him, own allegiance to Him, do whatever pleased Him and surrender to Him. Back then, it was all about HIM.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…”(1Peter 1:8)

Dear Child of God – is it still all about HIM who can not be seen just yet with your physical eyes, or lately has it all been about ME? – How I feel; what I like; what I want; and what I think.

Who really is reigning in your life?

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com