Come Thou Long Expected Jesus 4
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Every now and then I think God opens the eyes of my heart to see the familiar in a new or different way. Such is the case with the above phrase, “born to reign in us forever.” BAM! Jesus was not born to reign over just the earth or heaven or God’s creatures great and small, He was born to reign in us! He was born to be the Lord of life, and the Lord of my life and your life.
So how does that translate to the 24 hours in each of the 365 days that you and I occupy space on this planet each and every year? For me, it’s a challenge. I have found that it’s not a “one and done deal” because the cares and occupations of this life beckon and call to me. They distract me and—like a sheep—I sometimes stray. I have to return to something I “learned” about forty years ago.
Back then, I was in a prayer group with about half a dozen guys and we were studying the Revelation to John. One of the group was an old East Texas fellow that had the gift of simplification in his explanations of the mysteries of God’s word. His take on Revelation 3:20 (“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” RSV) was quite simple and straight forward. He said, “Son, all you gotta’ do is open the door, Jesus is astandin’ there awaitin’ on you.” Over the years, I often have, at times, had a mental image of Jesus waiting there as the day begins, waiting for me to “open the door” so that He may reign in my life that day.
How about you? Have you opened the door today? Have you handed over the wheel? Have you given Him the reins? He was born to reign in you forever, and that forever begins now.
