The King’s Backing

Read: Luke 10:1-24

[Jesus said,] “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.” Luke 10:16

IN WORD

As Kingdom citizens, we honor our King. We follow Him, obey Him, and worship Him. We forsake our own interests in order to live for His. In our commitment to Christ, our lives become all about Him.

But there’s more. We aren’t just loyal subjects. We’re also His representatives in this world. He doesn’t want mere servants; He wants partners. As we grow into His likeness, we have the opportunity to become His mouthpieces. We voice His words and demonstrate His character. We increasingly reflect His glory.

That’s a high privilege many Christians are reluctant to embrace. Perhaps it seems too presumptuous, or maybe even too demanding. We don’t think we’re worthy (which isn’t the point) or capable (which isn’t the problem). In this calling to be His representatives, we forget two important facts: (1) This was His idea, not ours; and (2) He empowers us for the task.

We need to remember the identity God gave us as His reflectors and representatives. We become like Him, and we express His will in this world. But we also need to remember the relationship that makes it all possible. Good parents have no trouble saying, “If you hurt my child, you have to deal with me.” And God is certainly a good parent. Our relationship with Him means that when we go into a potentially hostile world, we do so with the backing of the King Himself. If anyone rejects the child who bears His name, they are rejecting Him. He takes the welfare of His children personally.

IN DEED

The calling to represent God in this world can be intimidating because we know how imperfect we are. That humility is good. But our weakness is backed by His strength—and His commitment, His zeal, and His love. We do not serve Him as independent contractors; we represent Him as one of the family. And He always watches over His own.

ADDITIONAL READING: 1 Peter 4:11

The crowning wonder of God’s scheme is that He entrusted it to men.

HENRY DRUMMOND