Who is this King of Glory?

"Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory?

The LORD Almighty--

he is the King of glory."

Jesus.  His birth is what I celebrate at this time of year.  I scurry around making preparations which often distract me from the purpose for Christmas: A time to joyfully celebrate a God who would send His Son to earth as a lowly human in order to reconcile mankind to Himself, placing His precious Son in the womb of a teenage girl so He could grow into a man who would die on the cross for me and for you.  Jesus.  He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

I invited Jesus in as King of my life, but do I really know Him?  Who is this King of glory?

Strength.  If I had to live the life Jesus lived while He was here on earth, I would have grown weary.  I would have reached a breaking point as I ministered to people who many times couldn't care less about the message I was delivering.  I would have been disgusted by the attitudes of the Pharisees who thought they were so good but couldn't even grasp a simple truth.  I would have grown tired of people always wanting something from me, the constant press of humanity against my flesh would have pushed me over the edge.  "Heal me.  Help me.  Give to me."  Yes, I would have quickly grown weary.

But Jesus has this strength that keeps Him coming.  He doesn't give up, never getting tired.  While His flesh may have felt the effects of keeping up such a fast pace and demanding schedule, His Spirit never grew weary (Isaiah 40:28).  He was always ready to deliver one more person from suffering, to lead one more captive to freedom, to offer one more thirsty soul living water.  And He still is.

Who is Jesus?  He is the One who is strong enough to bear my burdens, propel me forward and empower me to live for Him.

Mighty Warrior.  There is something about a battle between good and evil that draws me in.  Whether this story comes in movie or book form, it doesn't matter.  My heart beats faster when I witness a character standing up to the bad guy, going against the odds in the name of what is right or defeating evil.  

I think I'm drawn into such a narrative because Jesus is this kind of warrior in my life.  I have an enemy who is bent on my destruction, who wants nothing more than to steal my peace, kill my faith and destroy my life (John 10:10).  He lurks around like a prowling lion, looking for ways to trip me up and discourage me (1 Peter 5:8).  I sometimes feel so helpless against his attacks.  

Then I remember my Mighty Warrior who fights on my behalf and has already conquered such evil (John 16:33).  With Jesus at my side, there is no weapon meant to harm me that can succeed, no power working against me that can bring me down, no enemy tactic designed to wreak havoc that will triumph (Isaiah 54:17).

Who is Jesus?  He is my Mighty Warrior who fights my battles, giving me confidence to walk boldly forward despite the battle that swirls around me.

Lord of Hosts.  He is the Lord Almighty.  He is sovereign over all things.  He is the avenger of His people.  When it seems all hope is lost, that this world is going down in flames and there is nothing I can do about it, Jesus is still on the throne and it is in He that I place my hope.

I need not worry that evil is running rampant, unchecked and without consequence.  The Lord of Hosts is at His post and will bring about justice in due time.  When my heart hurts to see the innocent suffering at the hands of the wicked, I can rest easy knowing that the sovereign Lord is biding His time until His fury is unleashed.  My stomach is turned to witness how darkness is being portrayed as light, that which is wrong as if it was right, but the Lord Almighty sees all and will let no injustice go unpunished. 

Who is Jesus?  He is the Lord of Hosts, giving me courage to minister to the suffering, knowing that He will avenge.

Jesus is not just the babe in the manger I see portrayed at this time of year.  He set aside His divinity for a time in order to enter the world He created as an infant, but His true character has so many facets.  I have invited Him into my heart to rule over my life as my strength, my Mighty Warrior, and the Lord of hosts.   Who is this King of glory?  He is Jesus, and His many names say it all!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can never stop seeking to learn more about the King of my life.

When do I make Jesus one-dimensional, minimizing His true character?

Do I know the real Jesus, or am I just familiar with the Jesus portrayed in pop culture?

It's All His

"The earth is the LORD's,

and everything in it,

the world,

and all who live in it. . ."
Psalm 24:1

My dog thinks everything is his.  At least that's the impression I get when I walk him each morning along our familiar route.  If he had his way, he'd mark each signpost, light pole and clump of grass.  Each time he lifts his leg, I imagine him saying, "Mine.  This is mine, too.  I claim this!"  

As ridiculous as it seems for a dog to think he owns anything, I actually do the same thing.  I look at belongings, family, job, time, and call it, "Mine."   In reality, it's all God's!  How can I claim something He created and gave to me?  Realizing everything belongs to God can give me a different outlook.

Property.  I never thought I was very materialistic, until God began to challenge me in the area of possessions.  Like most people, my family and I had a house full of stuff.  There was furniture that had weathered many family gatherings, pieces that reminded me of the days when our daughters were younger, and things that were given as gifts.  Then came the day when I heard God's calling to a distant land, a place across the country where my dad needed us. 

As I researched moving options, my husband and I soon realized it wasn't cost effective to move all our belongings over 2,000 miles away.  So, we decided obedience was more valuable than the stuff filling our home and we put it all up for sale, only keeping that which was necessary and a few sentimental items.  It wasn't until I thought about our dining room table where many family meals had been shared that I realized the hold these material items had on my heart.  Still, I let it all go and learned that the memories are still there despite the absence of the furniture.  And, we have had the privilege of watching God at work as he fills our new dwelling place with furnishings.

Acknowledging that all my property really belongs to God wards off possessiveness and stinginess.  For instance, if I'd held my furniture in higher regard than my dad's welfare, we would never have had the honor of spending precious time with the man God placed in my life as my father.  Also, the young woman just starting out, or the grandfather who was looking for a table big enough to accommodate his grandchildren, would not have had the blessing of acquiring what they needed.  God had something better in mind for what I had considered to be my furniture, but was really His all along.

Realizing all my property really belongs to God nurtures a more generous, selfless spirit.

People.  When I was around ten, my parents were going through a painful divorce.  As the middle child, I was effected deeply and began to fear losing my mother.  Every time she left the house to go to a meeting or to run errands, I would become anxious, thinking about all that could happen to her.  As I grew up and had a family of my own, I experienced similar feelings when my soldier-husband was gone long hours jumping out of airplanes or serving in war zones.  I learned that God loves my loved ones even more than I do and that they are under His domain.

Knowing that those I love really belong to God, not to me, I can rest easy no matter where they go or what they do.  I can choose to believe that it is His area of responsibility to watch out for them, to direct their lives, and to grow their faith.  Consequently, I need not worry when my loved one strays away, or is out of my influence, or is in harm's way.  God's got them in the palm of His capable hands!

Realizing all those I love really belong to God nurtures a more peaceful, patient spirit.

Perspective.  I think it was my hard work, my wise decisions, my thrifty practices that have positioned me where I now find myself.  I give myself credit for acquiring what I own, for thinking ahead and anticipating my current needs, for sacrificing hours of toil in order to prepare for the future.  In reality, without God, none of what I have would even exist, let along be in my possession.  Without God, I could not even take my next breath, let alone invest for the future.

God founded this earth and established it according to His purposes.  He made it all for Himself but chose to entrust it into the care of mankind (Genesis 1:26-30).  Knowing I am in God's creation instead of thinking He is a part of mine, changes the way I see the world around me.

My future, instead of being in my hands to direct as I see fit, is a well-thought-out blueprint just waiting to be revealed by a God who loves me and has my best interest at heart (Jeremiah 29:11).  Interruptions to my daily schedule, instead of being an aggravation that stops me from being productive, is an appointment set by a God who has a kingdom mission for me to accomplish in place of the puny plans I had for my time (Ephesians 2:10) .  The crisis of life-threatening illness, instead of my greatest fear coming to fruition, is a beautiful time of faith-building when I have the privilege of being comforted by the One who knows how to perfectly carry my burdens (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 Peter 5:7).

Realizing I am here for God, not the other way around, nurtures a more faithful, trusting spirit.

While my dog may thinking everything he sees is part of his domain, I am learning better.  All the property in my possession is really God's, the people I love are ultimately in God's hands, and it all is under His sovereign rule as part of His creation.  As such, I am discovering the pressure is off me to preserve my stuff, protect my loved ones, or order my own footsteps.  Instead, I can say, "It's all His!"

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him rule my life.

When do I hang onto the stuff in my life as if that's what is truly valuable?

How am I fooling myself into thinking it's my job to protect those I love?       

My Treasure

"The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
   the world, and all who live in it."

Psalm 24:1

House

Car

Clothes

Bank Accounts

Toys

Furniture

Electronics

Books

Decorations

Toiletries

This is a partial list of the stuff I own.  Even though my husband and I bought each item with our own money, can I really call it "mine"?  In light of Psalm 24, it all belongs to the Lord.  If I look a little deeper, I will even find that I belong to the Lord as well.

Good, Better, Best  How does the truth of Psalm 24 affect the way I hold onto the things in my list?  As Randy Alcorn said in his book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, "When you came to Christ you surrendered the title to your life.  You belong to God, not to yourself."  God is calling each one of us to view our possessions as belonging to Him.  In light of this truth, I should be constantly reassessing my "stuff" and asking Him how He wants me to use it.  Is there a better use of the resources God has given me?  The world is full of suffering.  As followers of Christ, it is our calling to deliver the message of hope that is found in the gospel "to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  How am I using the resources God placed in my hands to best fulfill that calling? 

Clenched Hands  I have heard that we are to hold our possessions with an open hand.  I often say I don't care about my stuff, but if I'm honest with myself, my heart is often like the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus told him to sell all he had and come and follow Him.  (Luke 18:22)  How can I unclench my hands?

Steward  One way is to adopt the attitude like that of Christ Jesus.(Philippians 2:5-8)  Even though He is God and could have righfully expected the very best, he instead made himself nothing and took on the nature of a servant.  Keeping in mind that a servant owns nothing of his own, this challenges me to change the way I view my stuff.  Instead of thinking of it as "mine," I can think of it as belonging to my Master and I am simply the steward.  

Change my Focus  Another help to loosen my grip would be to adopt the way the rest of creation lives.  As Jesus taught in Matthew 6, birds and flowers do not possess anything, but they lack for nothing.  As believers, we glorify God best when we rely on Him for our needs.  We look just like the world who has no hope when we do like them and,  "run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:32-33)  When I focus on God and His Kingdom, He will provide what little "stuff" I need.

My Heart   It is often said that the state of our heart is revealed by how we choose to spend our money.  How I view my stuff reveals what is important to me as Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  What I value determines where my heart will reside. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will hold all I have lightly and be willing to give it away without a second thought. 

Which of the possessions God has entrusted into my care would I have a hard time giving away?

Where does my heart reveal a pride of ownership?