Final Post For 2017

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. [Revelation 19.11-16]

Before I even read today, it occurred to me that perhaps we have not taken Jesus as seriously as we should.

I reflected on the book of Esther and how the king was supreme and his edicts were irrevocable. I thought about his ring and the authority it carried. I thought about how no one could come into the king's presence uninvited.

I thought about Jesus.

Then, today I read the passage above and realized that Jesus is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. I realized that Jesus has given us His name and told us what to do with it! I realized that Jesus clearly stated that what the Father had sent Him to do, He sends us to do. I realized that Jesus has authorized His followers to do the very same work He did on earth (and even greater work). I realized that there is no authority that can resist or prevent Jesus' authority. 

In these realizations today, the Model Prayer found in Matthew 6 becomes even more relevant and meaningful and necessary.

All authority was given to Jesus. Jesus gave that authority to His followers. How we exercise that authority is clearly defined in the Model Prayer Jesus taught us to pray: we are to declare God's Kingdom over every situation, we are to declare God's will over every situation (and we know God's will by His character and descriptions of heaven), we are to ask for daily bread, we are to forgive (in order to be forgiven), and we are to ask for guidance to avoid evil and the evil one.

The thing that made Jesus so radical and powerful on earth was His understanding of the authority He walked in.

The thing that will make us so radical and powerful on earth will be our understanding of the authority Jesus passed on to us. But, until we fully recognize that authority we have been assigned, it will lie dormant. Like the three servants in Matthew 25.14-30 we must, at all cost, strive to avoid being like the third servant who did nothing with what he was entrusted! (It must not be forgotten that Jesus told this parable to describe the Kingdom!)

We must however first recognize Jesus in the role of authority described in Revelation 19.11-16. Then, our obedience to Him will yield observable returns! Our faithfulness is measurable in its likeness to Jesus' life and ministry on earth.

Jesus commissioned us to use His name and do His works.

Father, I want to be found faithful to the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords as a New Year is upon us!