God’s Own Child
(Two Minute Read)
By Lisa Schau
“By thine own Eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.” It’s a line from the well-loved Christmas hymn, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
Is this possible? Can Jesus, the Saviour, really rule alone in my heart? Sometimes it feels like the throne of my heart is crawling with different “kings”.
It reminds me of when my kids and their cousins were toddlers/preschoolers and they would all try to climb onto our swivel rocking chair together. Little fists grasping, elbows and knees flailing and the more desperate ones even using their teeth to assert dominance over their cousins to gain control of the coveted chair.
That’s how my heart and mind feels every year at Christmas.
I’m not sure who is winning: DEFEAT over not measuring up to my own expectations, STRIVING to make Christmas extra special for my family, GUILT that I haven’t done enough soon enough for people in need, or that I have not been ‘Christian enough’ to my not-yet-saved neighbours.
But the only one who deserves the throne is Jesus. Alone.
I have to remember that all those pesky, noisy invaders can (and must!) be sent away. This throne is not theirs! It belongs to Saviour who calls me to enjoy and adore him in the stillness and faith through the power of the Eternal Spirit.
One of my favourite verses is Galatians 4:4-7 which reminds me that I have been adopted forever as God’s own child. And so, I can be here, in the throne room of my own heart where God Himself is the King.
Here I will refuse entrance to the lies of those noisy imposters who would make me wallow in disappointment in myself and my circumstances.
Here I will remember that my God is aware of my weaknesses and my failings, my best intentions that fall flat, and He says to me (like He said to Martha), “You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed, and it will not be taken from you - just come and sit and listen and love” (from Luke 10:41).
Oh, I know those clamoring voices will all come knocking again, but as I keep my eyes on the King, they and their noise fades away. The King, by His own sufficient merit, raises me to His glorious throne!
A QUESTION FOR YOU:
What Christmas carol lyric speaks to your heart this season?
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child (Galatians 4:4-7).