The Truth That Holds It All Together: The Kingdom, the King, and the Call
Main Text
Mark 1:14–15
Mark 1:14–15 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Central Supporting Text
John 14:6
John 14:6 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Scripture presentation: The substantial referenced quotations have been checked against KJV wording and are individually identified as complete quotations or excerpts. Where capitalization or punctuation differs, that is stated. Brief biblical echoes and sermonic restatements elsewhere remain manuscript renderings, paraphrases, or exposition unless separately identified; they are not all verbatim quotations. Illustrative speech and personal responses are not Scripture.
Central Truth
Every sermon, parable, warning, invitation, and command of Jesus is held together by one central truth: The kingdom of God has come near through Jesus Christ, the King, and every person is being called to leave self-rule, come to the Father through the Son, and live under the transforming government of God.
Introduction
When we open the Gospels, we encounter many different teachings of Jesus. We hear the Sermon on the Mount. We hear the parable of the sower. We hear about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. We hear Jesus teach about prayer. We hear him teach about forgiveness. We hear him teach about faith, love, humility, money, marriage, service, judgment, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, the cross, resurrection, and his return.
At first, all these teachings can appear to be separate subjects. One day Jesus is talking about loving our enemies. Another day he is warning about false prophets. Another day he is telling a rich young ruler to surrender everything and follow him. Another day he is speaking to Nicodemus about being born again. Another day he is eating with sinners. Another day he is washing the disciples’ feet.
Another day he is standing before a tomb and declaring: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” These teachings are different. But they are not disconnected. They are not random statements collected from different moments. There is one truth running through them. There is one message holding them together. There is one great purpose being revealed from many different directions. It is like looking at a diamond.
Every side reflects the light differently, but every reflection comes from the same diamond. It is like listening to an orchestra. There are many instruments. There are different sounds. There are different movements. But one composition holds them together. And the great truth that gives unity to all the teachings of Jesus is this: God is reclaiming humanity for himself through his Son. The kingdom of God has come near.
The King has arrived. The Father is being revealed. The lost are being called home. Sinners are being invited to repent. The broken are being restored. The proud are being humbled. The humble are being lifted. The blind are being made to see. The dead are being called to life. And every person who encounters Jesus must decide what they will do with the King.
That is the truth that holds it all together. Jesus did not come merely to give us better advice. He did not come merely to give us inspirational sayings. He did not come merely to improve our religious vocabulary. He came announcing that God was acting. He came announcing that the kingdom had come near. He came revealing the Father. He came seeking the lost.
He came confronting the dominion of darkness. He came calling humanity out of self-rule and back under the government of God. And that message confronts every one of us. Because the question is not merely: “Do I admire Jesus?” The question is: “Is Jesus my King?” The question is not merely: “Have I heard his teachings?” The question is: “Am I living under his rule?”
The question is not merely: “Do I believe in the kingdom?” The question is: “Have I surrendered to the King?”
1. The Kingdom of God is the framework of Jesus’ message
Jesus began his public ministry by announcing the kingdom.
Mark 1:14–15 says:
Mark 1:14–15 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation; capitalization/punctuation adapted — initial imprisonment clause omitted“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Notice the language. Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled.” Something long promised was now happening. Something anticipated by the prophets was now arriving. God was moving. God was acting. God’s redemptive purpose was entering history in a decisive way. Jesus also said: “The kingdom of God is at hand.” The kingdom had come near because the King had come near. Jesus did not begin by announcing a new religious organization.
He did not come merely to add another philosophy to the world. He did not come merely to make people more polite, more successful, or more emotionally balanced. Jesus came announcing that the government of heaven was breaking into the brokenness of earth. When Jesus healed the sick, the kingdom was being demonstrated. When Jesus opened blind eyes, the kingdom was being demonstrated. When Jesus cast out demons, the kingdom was confronting the dominion of darkness.
When Jesus forgave sinners, the kingdom was restoring the guilty. When Jesus touched the leper, the kingdom was reaching the rejected. When Jesus raised the dead, the kingdom was confronting death itself. Everywhere Jesus went, the rule of God was challenging everything that had been damaged by sin.
Jesus said in Luke 4:43:
Luke 4:43 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation — introductory narrator clause omitted“I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”
The kingdom was not a side subject in the ministry of Jesus. It was not one topic among many. It was the framework that gave meaning to everything else. The Sermon on the Mount describes the character of kingdom people. The parables reveal the mysteries of the kingdom. The miracles demonstrate the authority and compassion of the kingdom. The commandments reveal the righteousness of the kingdom.
The warnings announce the judgment of the kingdom. The cross reveals the sacrifice of the King. The resurrection declares the victory of the King. And the promise of Christ’s return points toward the final completion of the kingdom. Everything Jesus taught fits inside this great proclamation: God’s rule has come near, and humanity is being summoned to respond. But we must understand what the kingdom means.
The kingdom of God is not merely a geographical place. It is the active rule and authority of God. God’s Kingdom does not begin because human beings obey; His reign belongs to Him. But where His will is received and obeyed, the reality of His rule becomes visible in human life. The Kingdom of God is the reign and rule of God, not merely another name for the Church.
The Church is the people gathered under the lordship of Christ, called to live under His reign, bear witness to it, and embody its life in the world while awaiting its final fullness. That is why Jesus taught us to pray:
Matthew 6:10
Matthew 6:10 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation; capitalization/punctuation adapted“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Notice the connection. Where God’s will is done, God’s rule is being expressed. When pride gives way to humility, the kingdom is being expressed. When hatred gives way to forgiveness, the kingdom is being expressed. When selfishness gives way to service, the kingdom is being expressed. When impurity gives way to holiness, the kingdom is being expressed. When lies give way to truth, the kingdom is being expressed.
When fear gives way to faith, the kingdom is being expressed. The kingdom is not merely something we are waiting to enter someday. The kingdom begins to transform us now. We wait for its fullness. We wait for the return of the King. But even now, the King calls us to live under the government of heaven. This means Christianity is not merely about asking God to bless our plans.
It is about surrendering our plans to the King. It is not merely asking God to improve the life we have chosen. It is allowing God to govern the life that belongs to him. It is not merely adding Jesus to our schedule. It is placing our schedule, our relationships, our decisions, our desires, and our future under his authority. The kingdom is the framework.
The kingdom is the message. The kingdom has come near. And the kingdom demands a response.
2. The Kingdom cannot be separated from the King
The message of Jesus was not merely: “Believe these ideas.” The message was: “Come to me.” Jesus did not simply point toward a road. He said: “I am the way.” He did not merely explain truth. He said: “I am the truth.” He did not merely offer principles for a better life. He said: “I am the life.”
John 14:6 says:
John 14:6 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The kingdom of God cannot be separated from Jesus because Jesus is the King. You cannot receive the kingdom while rejecting the King. You cannot claim to honor the Father while dishonoring the Son. You cannot claim to accept the message of Jesus while refusing the authority of Jesus.
Jesus said in John 5:39–40:
John 5:39–40 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
These people studied the Scriptures. They knew religious traditions. They understood religious language. They possessed information. But they refused relationship. They studied the words while rejecting the Living Word. They searched for life in the text while refusing to come to the One who gives life. And that danger still exists today. It is possible to know Bible language without knowing the Lord of the Bible.
It is possible to attend church without surrendering to Christ. It is possible to quote Scripture while resisting what Scripture demands. It is possible to speak about Jesus while keeping Jesus outside the throne room of the heart. That is why the central truth of Jesus’ teaching cannot be reduced to morality. Jesus is not merely saying: “Try harder.” Jesus is saying: “Come unto me.”
He is not merely saying: “Find a better path.” He is saying: “Follow me.” He is not merely saying: “Learn these doctrines.” He is saying: “Abide in me.” Christianity without Christ at the center becomes empty religion. Kingdom teaching without the King becomes human philosophy. Morality without union with Christ becomes self-righteousness. And service without love for Christ becomes exhausting religious labor. Jesus himself is the center.
He is not merely the messenger of the kingdom. He is the King of the kingdom. He is not merely one of the truths we believe. He is the truth. He is not merely one of the ways we may choose. He is the way. He is not merely someone who improves our life. He is the life. That is why Jesus asks for more than admiration.
He asks for allegiance. Many people admired Jesus. Many people were amazed by Jesus. Some followed because of the miracles. Some followed because of the bread. Some followed because of curiosity. But Jesus was not looking for spectators. He was forming disciples. A spectator watches from a distance. A disciple follows. A spectator applauds what Jesus does. A disciple obeys what Jesus says. A spectator wants the benefits of the kingdom.
A disciple surrenders to the authority of the King.
3. The King calls us out of self-rule
Jesus announced: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Repentance is not merely feeling sorry. Repentance is not merely feeling guilty for a few minutes. Repentance is a turning. It is a change of mind. A change of heart. A change of direction. A change of loyalty. A change of government. Repentance means that I stop defending my supposed right to rule myself. That is the fundamental human problem: self-rule.
Sin is not merely breaking a list of commandments. Sin is the creature saying to the Creator: “I will decide what is right for me.” Sin is humanity attempting to occupy the throne that belongs to God. That is why Jesus confronts the heart.
Mark 7:20–23 says:
Mark 7:20–23 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Jesus does not merely deal with the surface. He goes to the root. Religion often trims the branches. Jesus deals with the root. Religion may teach people how to appear righteous. Jesus transforms people from the inside out. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly moved from outward behavior to inward condition. He taught that murder begins in anger. Adultery begins in lust. Falsehood begins in a divided heart.
Hypocrisy begins when we seek the praise of people instead of the approval of God. Greed begins when possessions take control of the heart. Judgmentalism begins when we examine everyone else but refuse to examine ourselves. Jesus went to the heart because the heart is where the throne is located. Who rules there? Who governs there? Who makes the final decision? Is it Christ? Or is it self?
That is why Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3:3
John 3:3 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation — introductory narrator clause omitted“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus was religious. He was educated. He was respected. He knew the law. But Jesus did not tell him: “You need a few adjustments.” Jesus told him: “You must be born again.” Why? Because the kingdom does not merely require improved behavior. The kingdom requires a new life. Jesus did not come to decorate the old nature. He came to give us a new nature.
He did not come merely to make bad people behave better. He came to make dead people live. He came to bring us out of darkness into light. He came to move us from the kingdom of self into the kingdom of God. And the response to that call can be expressed in several words: Repent. Believe. Come. Follow. Abide. Obey. These are not disconnected commands.
They describe the movement of a life surrendering to the King.
Repent
Turn away from sin and self-rule.
Believe
Entrust yourself to the gospel and to the One who brings it.
Come
Respond personally to the invitation of Jesus.
Matthew 11:28 says:
Matthew 11:28 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Follow
Leave the old direction and walk behind the King.
Matthew 16:24 says:
Matthew 16:24 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation — introductory narrator clause omitted“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Abide
Remain continually dependent upon Christ.
John 15:5 says:
John 15:5 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
The gospel is not merely an invitation to repeat a prayer and then continue governing our own lives. Jesus calls us into a living relationship of trust, surrender, obedience, and dependence.
That is why he asked in Luke 6:46:
Luke 6:46 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
That question cuts through every religious appearance. We may sing: “He is Lord.” We may pray: “Lord, help me.” We may speak about the Lord. But Jesus asks: “Why do you call me Lord while continuing to live as though you are lord?” The title “Lord” means authority. It means ownership. It means kingship. Jesus is calling us out of admiration and into allegiance. Out of self-rule and into surrender.
Out of empty religion and into living relationship.
4. The Kingdom transforms the heart and reveals the character of the Father
The purpose of the kingdom is not merely to relocate us after death. It is to transform us now. The Sermon on the Mount reveals what human life begins to look like when it comes under the government of God. Kingdom people are poor in spirit. They recognize their need for God. They mourn over sin. They are meek. They hunger and thirst after righteousness.
They are merciful. They are pure in heart. They are peacemakers. They remain faithful when persecuted. They become salt in a decaying world. They become light in a darkened world. They forgive. They give without seeking applause. They pray with sincerity. They trust the Father. They seek first the kingdom. They love their enemies. They do to others what they would have others do to them.
This is not natural human behavior. It is kingdom character.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44–45:
Matthew 5:44–45 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation; capitalization/punctuation adapted — verse 44 and opening of verse 45 only; sun/rain clause omitted“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”
Notice the connection. Jesus does not merely say: “Love your enemies because it is a good idea.” He says this kind of love reveals the character of your Father. The kingdom makes us look like the King. The children begin to resemble the Father. The disciples begin to resemble their Master. And this is where love becomes central. Someone may say: “The message of Jesus is love.”
That is true. But it is incomplete unless Jesus is allowed to define love. The love of Jesus is not weak sentimentality. It is not permission to continue in destruction. It is not refusing to speak truth. It is not calling evil good. It is not accepting everything in the name of kindness. The love Jesus taught is holy. It is truthful. It is sacrificial.
It is merciful. It is courageous. It is obedient.
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37–39:
Matthew 22:37–39 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation — introductory narrator clause omitted“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Love begins with God. We love God completely. And from that relationship, we love our neighbor. But in the Upper Room, Jesus raised the standard even higher.
John 13:34–35 says:
John 13:34–35 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The standard becomes: “Love one another as I have loved you.” How did Jesus love us? He served. He forgave. He touched the rejected. He welcomed the sinner. He spoke truth. He endured rejection. He laid down his life. The love of the kingdom has the shape of the cross. And the kingdom also reverses the values of the world. The world celebrates the proud.
Jesus says the humble will be exalted. The world values wealth and status. Jesus notices the poor widow who gives two small coins. The world overlooks children. Jesus places a child in the middle of the disciples. The world says leaders should be served. Jesus says leaders must become servants.
Mark 10:43–45 says:
Mark 10:43–45 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation; capitalization/punctuation adapted — opening of verse 43 omitted“Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus did not merely command servanthood. He demonstrated it. The King knelt and washed feet. The Lord became a servant. The One who deserved all honor accepted shame. The One who possessed all power surrendered himself. In the kingdom, greatness is not measured by how many people serve you. Greatness is measured by how faithfully you serve others. This is the transforming work of the kingdom.
God is not merely changing our destination. He is changing our nature. God is not merely preparing a place for us. He is preparing us for that place. God is not only bringing us into his kingdom. He is bringing his kingdom into us.
5. The cross and resurrection reveal the true King
Everything Jesus taught moves toward the cross. The cross was not an unfortunate interruption of his ministry. It was central to his mission.
Jesus said in Mark 10:45:
Mark 10:45 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The King establishes his kingdom differently from earthly rulers. Earthly kingdoms are often built by taking lives. The kingdom of God advances because the King gives his life. Earthly rulers protect their thrones. Jesus leaves glory and takes the form of a servant. Human rulers and kingdoms have often secured power by defeating or crushing their enemies; Jesus reveals a radically different kind of kingship. Jesus prays: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” At the cross, the holiness of God and the love of God meet.
The seriousness of sin is revealed. The mercy of God is revealed. The self-giving nature of the King is revealed. The way of discipleship is revealed. Jesus calls us to take up our cross because he first carried the cross for us. We do not suffer in order to purchase salvation. Christ purchased salvation. We do not surrender in order to earn the Kingdom or purchase salvation. Christ has accomplished what we could never achieve.
Repentance, obedience, and surrender are the response of those who receive His grace and bow to His lordship. Transformation is the fruit of His gracious work, not the purchase price of salvation. But when we follow a crucified King, our lives must begin to take the shape of his self-giving love.
There is no crown without the cross. There is no resurrection without death. There is no true discipleship without surrender. But the story does not end at the cross. The story does not end in the tomb. The King who laid down his life took it up again.
Jesus said in John 11:25–26:
John 11:25–26 (KJV) — Verified partial quotation — introductory narrator clause omitted“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
The resurrection declares that sin did not win. Death did not win. The grave did not win. Rome did not win. The religious authorities did not win. Satan did not win. The King lives. And because the King lives, the kingdom cannot be destroyed. Because the King lives, forgiveness is available. Because the King lives, new birth is possible. Because the King lives, transformation is possible.
Because the King lives, the dead will rise. Because the King lives, history is moving toward his final victory. And the resurrection also confirms the heart of the King. He is the King who seeks and saves the lost. A shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek one lost sheep. A woman searches carefully for one lost coin. A father watches for a lost son and runs to embrace him when he returns.
Jesus receives tax collectors. He speaks with the Samaritan woman. He enters the house of Zacchaeus. He touches lepers. He hears blind beggars. He welcomes children. He forgives the repentant thief on the cross.
Jesus said in Luke 19:10:
Luke 19:10 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The King came to seek. The King came to save. The King came to bring us home. The prodigal son was not merely rescued from the pigpen. He was restored to the father’s house. The lost sheep was not merely located. It was placed upon the shepherd’s shoulders and carried home. Salvation is not merely rescue from consequences. It is restoration to relationship. Jesus came to bring humanity back to the Father.
That is the heart revealed at the cross. That is the victory declared in the resurrection. That is the King we are called to follow.
6. Every person must respond to the King
Jesus preached extraordinary mercy. But he also gave serious warnings. Any presentation of Jesus that removes judgment presents a false Jesus. Jesus spoke of: The narrow gate and the broad road. The good tree and the corrupt tree. The wise builder and the foolish builder. The wheat and the tares. The good fish and the bad fish. The faithful servant and the wicked servant. The wise virgins and the foolish virgins.
The sheep and the goats. The resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment. Why did Jesus warn so strongly? Because our response to the King has eternal significance. The kingdom is an invitation. But it is not a casual invitation. Grace is free. But grace is not cheap. Jesus receives sinners. But he also says: “Go, and sin no more.” Jesus forgives. But he also says: “Follow me.”
Jesus offers rest. But he also says: “Take my yoke upon you.” Jesus is Savior. But he is also Lord. The final question is not whether we admired Jesus. The question is whether we belonged to him. The final question is not whether we heard his words. The question is whether we built our lives upon them. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the story of two builders.
One built upon the rock. The other built upon the sand. Both builders heard the words. Both builders built a house. Both builders faced the storm. The difference was not in what they heard. The difference was in what they did with what they heard.
Matthew 7:24 says:
Matthew 7:24 (KJV) — Verified direct quotation; capitalization/punctuation adapted“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.”
The wise person does not merely hear Jesus. The wise person builds upon Jesus. The wise person obeys Jesus. The wise person places the weight of life upon the words of the King. Storms can reveal what we are relying on, but suffering itself is not proof that someone lacks faith. Believers may grieve, fear, struggle, or feel shaken while still belonging to Christ. The question is not whether the storm produces perfect composure, but where we learn to return and place our trust.
Pressure, loss, disappointment, temptation, and time can reveal where we place the weight of our lives. And the question is not whether we can say, “Lord, Lord.” The question is whether our lives are built upon his rule.
This is the truth that holds everything together: God is restoring humanity to himself through Jesus Christ, calling us to leave the kingdom of darkness, surrender self-rule, receive the life of the Son, become like the Father, and live as citizens of the kingdom until the King returns. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us how kingdom people live. The parables teach us how the kingdom grows and how people respond.
The miracles reveal the power and compassion of the kingdom. The confrontations expose resistance to the kingdom. The calls to discipleship reveal the cost of following the King. The cross reveals the sacrificial love of the King. The resurrection reveals the victory of the King. The Great Commission sends the people of the kingdom into the world. The promise of his return assures us that the kingdom will be completed.
The truth that holds the whole message together is the kingdom of God. The center of it all is the King. The invitation is to come. The command is to follow. The life is to abide. The evidence is transformation. The mission is to bear witness. The hope is his return.
Conclusion
Jesus is still calling people today. The call has not changed. He still says: “Repent.” He still says: “Believe.” He still says: “Come unto me.” He still says: “Follow me.” He still says: “Abide in me.” He still says: “Love one another as I have loved you.” He still says: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” And he still asks: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
The question before us is not merely: “Do I believe that Jesus existed?” The question is: “Is Jesus my King?” Not merely: “Do I know his teachings?” But: “Am I living under his rule?” Not merely: “Have I attended church?” But: “Have I come to the Son?” Not merely: “Do I call him Lord?” But: “Have I surrendered the throne?” There can only be one king upon the throne of the heart.
Either Christ rules, or self rules. The fundamental question is whether we belong to Christ and are learning to live under His lordship rather than enthroning the self. Even genuine disciples struggle with self-will and require ongoing repentance, grace, and transformation. Either we follow the King, or we continue walking our own way. Either we build upon the rock, or we build upon the sand. Jesus does not call us merely to improve our lives.
He calls us to lose the old life and receive his life. He does not call us merely to become religious. He calls us to be born again.
He does not call us merely to admire the kingdom. He calls us to enter it. And the entrance into the kingdom is found in the King. The kingdom has come near. The King has arrived. The call is going forth. And today, every one of us must answer.
A Personal Response
Today, the King is calling. Perhaps you have known religion, but you have not truly surrendered to Christ. Perhaps you have studied the words, but you have resisted the Living Word. Perhaps you call him Lord, but deep inside you know that you are still controlling the direction of your life. Perhaps your heart has grown cold. Perhaps you have wandered. Perhaps you have become exhausted trying to produce spiritual fruit without abiding in the Vine.
Perhaps you feel lost. Perhaps you feel broken. Perhaps you feel guilty. Perhaps you feel far from the Father. Hear the good news. The King has come to seek and to save the lost. The Father is calling you home. The Shepherd is searching for you. The Savior carried your sin to the cross. The stone has been rolled away. Jesus Christ is alive. And he is calling: “Come unto me.”
Today is the day to surrender self-rule. Today is the day to repent. Today is the day to believe. Today is the day to return. Today is the day to say: “Jesus, you are not merely part of my life. You are the Lord of my life.” Perhaps you have been trying to live with Jesus as your Savior while resisting him as your King.
Perhaps you want forgiveness without surrender. Perhaps you want blessing without obedience. Perhaps you want the benefits of the kingdom without the government of the King. But today, the Lord is calling you deeper. He is calling you out of empty religion. He is calling you out of divided loyalty. He is calling you out of self-rule. He is calling you home. Wherever you are, open your heart before God.
As you read, turn your attention to your own heart. Do not think about who else needs this message. Let the word search your own heart. Who is sitting upon the throne? Who has the final word? Who governs your decisions? Who directs your future? Is Jesus merely present in your life? Or is Jesus ruling your life? Today, surrender the throne. Today, come to the King.
You may respond in prayer.
Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before you. We confess that many times we have attempted to govern our own lives. We have followed our own understanding. We have chosen our own ways. We have called Jesus Lord while resisting his authority. Forgive us. Wash us. Cleanse our hearts. Deliver us from pride. Deliver us from unbelief. Deliver us from hypocrisy. Deliver us from fear.
Deliver us from bitterness. Deliver us from greed. Deliver us from self-righteousness. Lord Jesus, we believe that you are the Son of God. We believe that you died for our sins. We believe that you rose from the dead. We receive you as Savior, Lord, and King. Bring us into the life of your kingdom. Teach us to follow you. Teach us to abide in you.
Transform us into the character of the Father. Make us merciful. Make us pure in heart. Make us humble. Make us faithful. Teach us to forgive as we have been forgiven. Teach us to love as you have loved us. Teach us to serve as you served. Teach us to take up our cross and follow you. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done in us, through us, and among us, as it is in heaven.
We surrender the throne of our hearts to you. Rule over our thoughts. Rule over our desires. Rule over our relationships. Rule over our decisions. Rule over our homes. Rule over our ministry. Rule over our future. Jesus Christ, you are our King. And from this day forward, we choose to follow you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.