The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. [Psalm 135:6 (NLT)]
You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near. [Isaiah 54:14 (NLT)]
Every nation has some system of government and I wonder what system is used in God’s Kingdom. Since He doesn’t govern by committee or with a privileged ruling class, it isn’t an oligarchy or an aristocracy. He is a King, has a Kingdom, and can exercise absolute power, yet His is not a monarchy. His power didn’t come from conquest or birthright, no one gave Him the crown, and no royal scion will follow Him; His reign always has been and forever will be. With all those Old Testament rules, perhaps His is a dictatorship, albeit a benevolent one, in which God exercises absolute power for the good of the population as a whole. That sort of rule, however, would be a one-size-fits-all government. A God who has numbered the hairs on our heads and written our names on his hand knows that one size can never fit all of his unique children.
God’s Kingdom isn’t like our nation, a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” with its three branches of government and the checks and balances that come with it. In God’s government, all three branches are rolled into one; He makes the rules, implements them, and decides how they are to be interpreted. There’s no need for checks and balances; God can’t step over the boundaries because He has none. His reign is not dependent upon re-election or approval rating, the majority does not rule, His word is law, and the only being God needs to please is Himself. He didn’t consult with Adam and Eve about the forbidden fruit rule nor with Sodom and Gomorrah about their destruction. The Ten Commandments were not created in committee, voted on by the Israelites, ratified by Moses or tested by an Israelite court. God doesn’t need our advice, consent, or support to make the sun rise or set. Clearly, He runs neither democracy nor republic.
With any sort of earthly government, the ruler’s power is limited to his life span and his nation’s border. God’s power, however, is unlimited. He is the eternal Sovereign God over the entire universe. His is a never-ending government of love, forgiveness, righteousness, peace and justice. Unlike other forms of government, His is truthful, dependable, and free of any corruption or bureaucracy. I don’t think there is a word that describes God’s reign except, perhaps, “perfect.” After all, God is God and we are not.
Romper Room, a children’s program that first aired in 1953, was like a televised pre-school/kindergarten class. At the end of every show, the hostess would pick up her magic mirror and recite the words, “Magic Mirror, tell me today, did all my friends have fun at play?” Looking through an open frame shaped like a hand mirror, she’d then call out various children’s names: “I see Johnny had a special day today, Olivia had a special day yesterday, and I see Bonnie, Tammy and Gregory had special days, as well, and Brandon, you know I see you…” For forty years, small children patiently sat in front of their TVs hoping to hear their names called. While that illustrates the naiveté of youngsters back then, it also demonstrates how much we all want to be noticed and recognized.
Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. [Isaiah 43:2-3a (MSG)]
In our house, we have an unwritten agreement to accept each other’s choices when it comes to giving. God had laid it on my heart to help a young family in our church through some difficult financial times. When I told my husband I’d written a generous check to them, he said I didn’t need to ask him. “I wasn’t asking,” I replied, adding that I hoped he was in agreement with me. Although that check was not dependent upon my husband’s authorization or approval, I still wanted him on board with my decision to write it.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [John 10:10 (ESV)]
“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” asks the comedian. “Practice, practice, practice,” is his answer. “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work,” said Booker T. Washington, a man who truly knew the value of hard work. Most of us, having been raised with a strong work ethic, would agree with Washington’s words. If we want something we must work for it. If we want to be musicians, we practice; if we want to get on the team, we train; if we want a scholarship, we study. Success comes through determination and lots of hard work. We’ve heard all the maxims; there’s no elevator to success so we have to take the stairs. We know there’s no such thing as a free lunch, we must work our way up the ladder, and we’ve got to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. Success is never handed to you and it’s only in the dictionary that success comes before work.
Devotions of the Heart 