The Government

Daily Reading: Revelation 10-11

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.” (Revelation 11.15)

Devotional Thought: Consolidation of power can be a frightening thing.  There is a saying: “Power corrupts.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  As I see power and control consolidating in the federal government, I grow uneasy.  More and more areas of our lives are controlled by fewer and fewer people.  Through punitive taxation and threat of reprisal, the government is exerting increased influence over our communities, our states, our education, our workplaces, our travel, our communications, our finances, our retirements, our healthcare, our marriages, our childrearing, and, yes, even our churches.  What was begun as a union of sovereign states, led by representatives from each state, has become an unwieldy oligarchy, ruling over vassal states.  The reach of the government seemingly is without boundaries.  It is indeed a frightening prospect.  I wonder, “Are we are headed toward the single kingdom of the world mentioned in Revelation 11.15?” 

Perhaps we are, but one thing is certain: we are indeed on a path that leads to God’s sovereign rule over all nations and peoples.  There is only one government that will not be corrupted by absolute power: that is the Kingdom of God!  We need not fear the reign of God, for God is already sovereign, and “our Lord and his Christ” has shown himself to be a Sovereign of Love.  Jesus Christ purchased the right to be the ruler of our kingdom when he shed his blood on the cross of Calvary.  We can place our complete trust in him.

It is one thing to hear the words, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”  It is quite another to hear the blessed words: “I’ve come down from heaven, and I’ve laid down my life to be your Savior.”

Prayer: Isaiah prophesied of you, Lord, that "the government shall be upon his shoulders."  The government: no longer competing and warring nations.  All will be peace and security in you.  Thank you, King Jesus, for your sovereign plan and power.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 104:24-35

24 How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.

26 There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

27 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.

30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works—

32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.

35 But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the LORD, my soul. Praise the LORD.