It’s Friday…No, That’s Not The King’s Style

We are halfway through the first month of the New Year and it looks like it will give the drama we experienced in 2020 a run for the money. In just a few days, the 46th President of The United States of America will be inaugurated. How will he and his administration lead? Only God knows for certain, and the rest of us will soon find out.

Let’s imagine that we’re in a classroom listening to our teacher explain what presidential authority is like – as though the information was vital for us to know. Would we wonder why he felt it necessary to prepare us for a position few people would ever hold? Would we think he was out of his mind? Why would we need to know the demands of the presidency unless we were actually going to be president?

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus had a last meal with His followers and gave them some final instructions. One of the more surprising instructions – and quite a bit of what He said was surprising – began with this statement. “This is what authority is like in the Gentile world,” He essentially told them, “and that isn’t how authority works in My Kingdom.” The words may seem familiar to us who read the Bible, but have you considered the implications? Why is Jesus telling former fishermen and other assorted commoners what kingship is like?

Because they are going to have authority in His Kingdom. Some of them already suspect so; they have asked to sit at His right and His left. But they don’t know what kind of Kingdom this will be, and they certainly don’t understand their role in it. They still have no real sense of the Kingdom culture. Even so, they are being prepared to rule – at least by The King’s definition of ruling.

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them . . . but you are not to be like that.” (Luke 22:25-26)

How does a king or a ruler in the Kingdom of God act? Not with unyielding, overbearing authority. Not with unreasonable or self-serving demands. Not like the rulers of the world do. No, That’s Not The King’s Style, and it can’t be the style of the leaders who govern under Him. He rules for the sake of others, serving and meeting needs. His greatness is seen in His willingness to not act great. Now, that’s the style that God always rewards, agree?

Have a peace-filled weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who know Him as the King of kings and follow His example in every area of their lives, not because it’s easy or convenient, but because its example will outlive them.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)