Post #10: Let Earth Receive Her King
This is a popular song that is sung around the Christmas season:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King…
I'm sure you have heard this song many times. ...Let earth receive her king...
Have we really? Has the earth received her King? It would seem that for much of the world, the answer is no. Whether consumed by evil, false teachings, or just plain hedonism, the world, for the most part has not received the King. During the Christmas season, the analogy of giving and receiving gifts is relevant to consider. It’s interesting to think about the concept of receiving a gift. You can see a gift, hold it, know about it, even open it up (as in a present, for example). However, until you actually use it and make it part of your life, you really haven’t truly received it. The same is true about the knowledge of Jesus. Seeing, holding (in your mind), knowing about, is not the same thing as receiving.
John 1:9-12 says:
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
It’s easy to assume that the ones who have missed the message of Jesus, who are missing out on the Christian life, are just the bad guys. I would contend though, that those who miss it, aren’t just the typical “bad guys.” What I mean is that there are so many who profess to believe in God, or even profess to be “Christian,” when they have not fully received the gift of the God’s Son, The King, into their hearts (read Matthew 7:21-23). You see, it takes a commitment followed by surrender. This is what it means to receive Christ.
The good news is that the Savior is waiting for us all to surrender our lives to Him and let him be the Lord of our lives. Revelation 3:20 says, “[He] stands at the door and knocks…” He wants to be our King.
"The greatest tragedy isn’t animosity, it’s indifference to Jesus." (Wagg
oner)
What is your reaction to what you have learned or been told about Him? Has it been good enough for you to just sit with that knowledge and never really do anything about it? He has given us forgiveness, eternal salvation, and a hope of an abundant life. But have you received that gift fully? Have you refused Jesus’ ways, or received Him? He said that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
Have you received your King and allowed him to be that authority in your life? It’s about surrender and turning to Him - His way is not my way. To surrender my life that is all about me, and say - “you are the way, truth, life…”
If you have looked into Jesus, read about him, etc., but have never received Him, now is the time that you can be saved and turn and follow. 1 John 1:9 says that if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleans you from all unrighteousness.
You can pray this right now: “Jesus, I submit to you and confess that YOU are Lord and King of my life. I receive you into my heart. Forgive me. I surrender my life to you. I will turn from my ways. Have your way in my life.”
Jesus asks us to know him. But he doesn’t force himself onto us. And his ask is not a difficult task. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)
The light of the world came to us. Allow the light to now shine through us. Believe, receive, share Jesus.
May the Light of the World shine through you as you receive him, and shine and carry His light to a dark world.
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