SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1058

“Savior and Judge”

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Consider for a moment who Jesus is to you. When you think of Him, what image do you see? Is He always the babe in the manger, or the crucified Savior on the cross? Or do you see the risen Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father with all power and authority given to Him? And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

During the Christmas holiday season, the birth of Christ is celebrated and we reflect on Him as the child in the manger in Bethlehem. Our children see the ‘baby Jesus’ statue in the manger scenes in our churches and homes.

Then comes the Easter season and we see portrayed the beaten, tortured and crucified Christ and we celebrate our salvation through His death and resurrection. The problem is that we have relegated Jesus to specific events during the year like President’s Day and the Fourth of July. But unlike memorial holidays from history, Jesus Christ is as alive today as He has been for eternity.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end…says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 22:13; 1:8)

We need to celebrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ every moment of every day as His stewards wholly submitted to His authority.  For this Christ child, born in the manger – this Savior of mankind who suffered and died for our sins is the resurrected Christ who will judge all mankind.

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead…For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:10

A cartoon in a recent Sunday paper showed a family going to church together. The kids rejoiced that Dad was going with them. The oldest son asked his Dad why he did not stay at home and watch football as was his apparent custom. The Dad mentioned that he now was able to DVR the game. The last frame of the cartoon shows the Dad upset at the score as he watched over the shoulder of a man in the pew in front of him streaming the game on his device during the service.

This cartoon, unfortunately, is more reality than it is fiction. Our relationship with Jesus must grow to be one of continual fellowship throughout the year. We must grow beyond that of ‘lordship lip service’ given half-heartedly at designated seasons of celebration of our faith.

May every moment of your life, your thoughts and actions, your whole being, heart, mind and soul, indicate His Lordship.