Kings of the King

When you think of a King, what do you imagine?

This:

Or this:

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 3:26-4:7

What a concept to wrap our minds around.  We were born cursed... slaves.  When each of us declared that Jesus is Lord, we were adopted by God into his kingdom.  We became brothers and sisters in Christ.  This adoption provided us with an inheritance; the most valuable inheritance EVER.  How does that make you feel?  Can you fathom that you're an heir?  A King? 
 

The worldliness around us can make it easy to confuse what God has truly given us.  In our more recent history (pre-nineteenth century'ish), a King was someone who wore glittering robes and a crown.  Who was immeasurably wealthy and still wanted for more.  Who lived in a castle and had everyone at their beck and command.  Who ate grapes off a platter (thanks Joel!) and summoned concubines at their pleasure.

But... God tells us what a King is to be.  A King does not bask in his wealth and laud it over his kingdom.  A King does not take multiple wives or possess concubines.  A King must read the Word everyday and live by the scriptures.  In biblical times, a King was actually required to write on scroll their own copy of this law and keep it with him always.  

These commands can be applied in so many ways to our present day lives.  Quite obviously, we must be disciples of Jesus Christ and follow the commands of our Great Commission.  We need to talk to God and be in the Word daily.  We need to go and make disciples.  We need to be humble and never once consider ourselves any better than the Lost because we have been adopted into His kingdom.  If we are to be true Kings of the one true King, we must act like it.  I, for one, don't want to give up the throne.