Love is Sending the Perfect Ruler
by Abiding Love
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
3 He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1, 3-5, 10)
Three years ago Americans wanted to Make America Great Again. A couple presidential cycles before that we put our faith in a message of Hope and Change. We long for good leaders who will provide us security, peace, justice. We submit to their authority trusting that they will govern in ways best for us.
Often we put too much faith in earthly leaders. Parents fail us. Every one of us parents have. Church leaders fall short. And presidents and governments never live up to their carefully crafted slogans.
This Christmas God is sending us a gift. These advent weeks let’s stop to ponder who this gift is. One of the great blessings God sends us this Christmas is a ruler who will leave up to what we crave in a King.
From the family of Jesse and David, a child will be born who will judge and govern in ways that go beyond appearances. He won’t be tricked by appearances. He won’t act in ways that serve to be good photo ops for his next election. He will just and rule based on what is divine truth and what he sees in the depths of our souls. His government will be conducted in the perfectly “right” way.
This means justice must come for every wrong. This means the wicked will be slayed.
That may sound good to our ears until we reflect on our own behavior. Nothing in our lives is hidden from Him either. Our injustice, unfaithfulness, and selfishness. Our poor spiritual, financial, or emotional government of our homes and families. Our perfect King won’t overlook these things.
Nor will our perfect King punish us for them. Instead, in astounding grace our King will pay the astounding debt of our sin using his own lifeblood as the price. Our King will rule us by first serving us and giving His life to redeem us from sin. On the cross he will be raised up so that, like a political banner waving in the air, he will fly high over this sinful world calling all nations to himself so that sinners can find rest in Him.
And then our King of Love can rule over all things perfectly for us. He will govern all of time and all things in this creation to guide us home into eternity with him in paradise.
Are you fed up with the governance you see in the men and women around you. Rejoice! Hope! God in Love is sending you a perfect ruler this Christmas.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, help me to find quiet moments this week to ponder what a wonderful Prince of Peace I have in Jesus. Amen.
Peace in Jesus,
Pastor John Gensmer
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