Head Of Government

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. Isaiah 9:6

IN WORD

God’s Kingdom is a government. Some people may not like the sound of that—government can have some pretty negative connotations—but it’s true. Our King manages resources, sets policy, establishes justice, pursues goals and purposes, and cares for the people. That’s what government does.

As in any realm, citizens have a choice about whether they comply with that government or not. That choice comes with consequences, and it seems senseless to defy this kind of King, but the choice is real nonetheless. Just as physical laws have consequences that apply to every human being—gravity, momentum, and energy don’t favor certain people over others, for example—God’s standards are universally applicable. If we defy them, we experience unfortunate results, just as the person who steps off a cliff experiences the results of gravity. But if we learn the way His realm functions and choose to live according to its conditions, the consequences are extremely encouraging. We receive the peace of His government. We grow in wisdom and stature in the eyes of the King. And we find that He begins to share the governing with us.

IN DEED

Though we easily use the words King and Kingdom with Jesus, few people think of His reign as a government. But when we do, we begin to think in terms of our citizenship. What does He promise as governor of this realm? What are our responsibilities? What can we reasonably expect of Him, and what does He reasonably expect of us? Is it possible that the pain of this world—and often of our lives—is the result of misunderstanding or misapplying His policies? And what would our lives look like if we fully aligned ourselves with this government’s objectives? These are questions that citizens ask when they are involved and engaged. And the ruler can trust His authority to those who answer them well.

ADDITIONAL READING: Revelation 3:21-22

If you do not wish for His Kingdom, don’t pray for it. But if you do, you must do more than pray; you must work for it.

JOHN RUSKIN