By Jason Smith
What is our goal as Christians? Why is it that we do what we do? How we answer this question is important. We need to have the right reason as to why we choose to do what we do in service and worship to God. I believe the Apostle Paul sums up pretty well what that reason should be in 2 Corinthians 5:9
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
In everything we do, is this our desire? This needs to be the motivation we have in approaching the will of God and the Authority of Christ. Each one of us as Christians must make it our goal and aim to be pleasing to Him in EVERYTHING we do. This must be where we begin because it can become easy for us to want to please others in what we do, and in so doing, lose our focus on pleasing our King. There are many other things and people in life at times that we tend to put on the throne and make "king" in our lives. These things are not our source of authority:
We need to choose each and every day who it is that will be the One who reigns in my life and leads me to make decisions in what I do in my service to God. This is what we must decide as individuals and as local churches. This is what authority is all about. It is all about pleasing our King instead of pleasing ourselves and making ourselves and those around us King.
Jesus is the King. He is the One who created us. We belong to Him. He is the reason why we can become citizens in the Kingdom. He is the One who God exalted and sat at His right hand. Jesus is the King, not us or anyone else! Jesus is the Ruler and King of everyone, whether they like it or not. Jesus is the King of the atheist whether they choose to submit to His Lordship in their lives or not. Paul says in Philippians 2:9-11 about Jesus:
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Because Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross, God exalted Him and made Him King over all. He was given all authority on Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:19-20). If Jesus has all authority on Heaven and on earth, how much does that leave for you and me? Zero. Zilch. None. He is the only One deserving of being the King of our lives, and He is the only One deserving of being the head of His church. As Paul says in Colossians 1:18, “in all things He (speaking of Jesus) is to have the preeminence.”
Jesus is the anointed One of God, God’s chosen King. He is the authority we must submit to, and He is the One who we must desire to please.
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
In everything we do, is this our desire? This needs to be the motivation we have in approaching the will of God and the Authority of Christ. Each one of us as Christians must make it our goal and aim to be pleasing to Him in EVERYTHING we do. This must be where we begin because it can become easy for us to want to please others in what we do, and in so doing, lose our focus on pleasing our King. There are many other things and people in life at times that we tend to put on the throne and make "king" in our lives. These things are not our source of authority:
- Our feelings or intuition. No matter where we believe these feelings are coming from, they are not the ultimate source of authority. Saying “I feel God would like it if we do this” when God does not speak on the matter or says something else on the matter is dangerous. Our feelings are not King.
- Our personal experiences. I have recently been studying with someone who allows their personal experiences to be their King above Jesus when it comes to miraculous spiritual gifts. Because he had seen guys on TV do miracles or he himself had learned to speak in some kind of heavenly language led him to reject what King Jesus and His Apostles say about those things.
- What we have always done as a church. Traditions are not our King. They must be submitted to what He says also. Just because we have done something a certain way for so wrong does not make it right.
- What our families have always believed. Our parents, grandparents, and other families members are not our King either. When we become Christians, we make the decision to take Jesus’ words above even what those closest to us say. Jesus says, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26) Our allegiance to Him as King needs to far surpass our allegiance to anyone else.
- What preachers and elders say. Even those who we look up to and respect in the church are not King.
We need to choose each and every day who it is that will be the One who reigns in my life and leads me to make decisions in what I do in my service to God. This is what we must decide as individuals and as local churches. This is what authority is all about. It is all about pleasing our King instead of pleasing ourselves and making ourselves and those around us King.
Jesus is the King. He is the One who created us. We belong to Him. He is the reason why we can become citizens in the Kingdom. He is the One who God exalted and sat at His right hand. Jesus is the King, not us or anyone else! Jesus is the Ruler and King of everyone, whether they like it or not. Jesus is the King of the atheist whether they choose to submit to His Lordship in their lives or not. Paul says in Philippians 2:9-11 about Jesus:
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Because Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross, God exalted Him and made Him King over all. He was given all authority on Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:19-20). If Jesus has all authority on Heaven and on earth, how much does that leave for you and me? Zero. Zilch. None. He is the only One deserving of being the King of our lives, and He is the only One deserving of being the head of His church. As Paul says in Colossians 1:18, “in all things He (speaking of Jesus) is to have the preeminence.”
Jesus is the anointed One of God, God’s chosen King. He is the authority we must submit to, and He is the One who we must desire to please.
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