We Act As If We Have No King

Christian behavior is very interesting to consider these days. It is as if we do not have a ruler and everyone does whatever they feel is best. It is like Jesus was just a prophet who gave us some general guidelines and suggestions and now we have to work them out on our own. Seldom do we act as if we are under authority and that we are accountable for our heart, thoughts, words and actions. It is like we think we are on our own, so we look for someone to be king because we don't want to be alone.

We are suppose to be different, unique, set aside by Yahweh to bring him glory, just like the Israelites were. They were a peculiar people; no other nation had a law like theirs. No other nation was ruled over directly by their god. No other nation was without a king. But Israel was because Yahweh was suppose to be their King. He purposed to rule over them, develop and protect them, to bless their land and the work of their hands. He wanted to prosper them directly and they were to be holy to bring himself glory as he set this nation in front of the world, on display. But we read this throughout Judges:

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

They acted like this even though Yahweh had given them his statutes, the Law.

The problem was that people lost their intimacy with Yahweh. They did not look to him for leadership and guidance. They did not make themselves accountable to him and so felt they were on their own. Instead of being uniquely cared for by their God, they became little pockets of people defined by clans, easily cut off from each other and attacked, not unlike today.

Today, most churches and spiritual trainers/leaders do not see themselves directly responsible to Jesus and so do what is right in their own eyes. In other words, they teach from their opinion instead of by the Spirit and the Holy Scriptures. They make it say what they want it to say according to their personal view. Have we lost our intimacy with Jesus?

There is a sad passage found in 1 Samuel where the people threw off Yahweh's will for them and demanded to be like all the other nations; they wanted a king. Samuel was upset, feeling rejected as the last judge in a long line of judges, but Yahweh spoke to him the truth of the matter:

Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. (1 Samuel 8:7)

We are a unique people, a nation that was not a nation, a people not defined by geographical borders but spiritual and moral ones. We have been called out, transformed and transforming into a new creation, adopted into Yahweh's family, called his children, sealed for eternity by the Holy Spirit. We don't get to do what we want as we are now slaves to his righteousness and live according to his Word. We are possessed by Jesus Christ via the Spirit as we also possess Jesus. We sit at the right hand of the Father with Jesus and are here in this place to teach and lead the lost into a saving relationship with Jesus. We are not here to live by our opinion, to do what is right in our own eyes.

Simply put:

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Act accordingly, child of Yahweh, because you have a King who is with you every day to teach, guide, and bless you, to prosper you and to make you shine as he sets you in front of the world, on display, for his glory.

He Gave Himself Completely So You Could Be Completely God's

Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. (John 17:17)

The things you think you need to make your life complete, you don't really need. What we really need is food and clothes, and even these Jesus told us not to worry about. Shelter would be good, some companionship but Jesus said that not even he had a place to lay his head.

Truth be told, our priorities are in a mess. Kingdom values are all mixed up with earthly values. It is hilarious to hear how much they say it costs to raise a child today. Sure, if you are going to buy them all over-priced name brands and fall for all the marketing gimmicks of food and toys. All we are doing is re-enforcing the values of this world in the minds of our children. According to the experts, I would have to be a millionaire to raise the 11 children who share my name. 

It is when we are lost in these wrong values that the value of the highly important gets lost. How are you sanctified, set a part from this world, for God's purpose? By the gospel of Jesus Christ. God's Word is truth and by this Word, the truth that Jesus brought forward, we are made completely God's. Hear Jesus' prayer:

Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one. They don’t belong to this world, and neither do I. (John 17:15-16)

We don't belong. Look at your credit card bill and repeat those words, I don't belong. Look at your long term goals for your life, your family and repeat the words, I don't belong. Look at your attitude toward your boss, your neighbours and repeat those words, I don't belong. When you are standing in a crowd, is there anything about you that let's people know, you don't belong?

We are in this world but not of it. We don't belong. We are not here for our benefit, for our pleasure, for our self-seeking, but because we have been given a mission. We don't belong. The gospel of Jesus Christ, God's Word, has sanctified us, set us a part for his purpose, not our own. We don't belong.

I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me. I have given myself completely for their sake, so that they may belong completely to the truth. (John 17:18-19)

That stings a bit. Jesus gave himself completely so that we could belong to God completely. How does your life reflect this truth? Are we living to honour the price Jesus paid? Does our living demonstrate that we belong to God completely, or are we living as part-time warriors?

Sanctified.