Today I had to get up early and be at a local research hospital for two appointments; an echocardiogram and a pacemaker checkup. No time for devotions but I took a Bible and prayed during wait times. It was a good experience. I knew today’s word and read many verses about the REIGN of God.
I also experienced His rule in those medical appointments. After a word about my history of heart enlargement as a child, the technician took a quick look at me heart and said, “You were lucky.” My definition of luck is the “Lord’s unconditional care and kindness.”
The pacemaker is also working well with several years left on the battery. I thank God that He is in charge and taking care of my health. But that is a small thing; He takes care of everything else too!
God rules the nations. One hymn says, “Though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” Psalm 47:7–8 backs that up! “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.” Many other psalms and verses declare the same thing.
God’s reign is always and forever. It will never change nor can He be removed from His rule:
Psalm 93:1–2. “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.”
Psalm 96:10. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
As I read these verses, my heart sings as does the whole earth. His rule is grounded in all goodness and what is right:
Psalm 97:1–2. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. “
The prophet also celebrates those who share the Gospel of God’s saving grace and who tell of His sovereignty:
Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ ”
The NT speaks also of the never-ending rule of God as in Luke 1:33: “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
1 Corinthians 15:24–28 adds this about the reign of Christ that after all believers are resurrected:
“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”
And finally, Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’ ”
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Another marvel is that not only does “the Lord our God the Almighty reign” but those who love and follow Him will reign with Him also. In the meantime, I’m to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” and “Set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” and “not letting sin reign in my mortal body, to make me obey its passions” until that time when “night will be no more and I will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be my light, and I will reign forever and ever with Him.”
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