There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13,14
Who is Ruling?
Look at the world, and you might wonder, "Who is ruling?" The hate, the terrorism, the persecution, the threat in the Middle East, the looming "fiscal cliff"–all of it makes everything feel so chaotic and unsure. Really, who is ruling?
If you saw who is ruling, you might have to do a double-take. There is nothing in his appearance that stands out and screams "king material." He looks like us. He calls himself "the Son of man" (John 3:13). If you are not careful, he might disappoint you. If you are so obsessed with him providing a better life here and now, you might even turn against him. Many did. They cried, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
But look closer at the one who is ruling. The one who even the winds and the waves obey is the one who hung on the cross for sinners and cried, "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34). He is the one who comforted the thief on the cross and promised, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). As he died, he is the one who moved a Roman officer to exclaim, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54). And when all seemed chaotic and unsure to his closest disciples, he is the one who removed all their doubt when he said to them in person, "Peace be with you" (Luke 24:36).
This is the same one who rules your heart with his grace and Spirit. This is the same one who sustains your faith with his forgiving love in Word and sacrament. And this is the same one who promises to come back for you. He is the one you will see on the clouds of heaven, the one for whose name every knee will bow and every tongue confess, the one who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Who is ruling? He is the Christ the Lord!
Prayer:
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Come quickly! Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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