

"Kings shall fall down before Him and gold and incense bring; All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing. To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend; His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end.
"O'er ev'ry foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest, From age to age more glorious, all blessing and all-blest. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand forever-that name to us is Love."
Many elected officials have term limits. They may remain in office for a certain number of years or serve a limited number of terms, but then someone new must be elected. Depending on the political party or the candidate in office, some voters will be pleased with this arrangement, others not so much. In some countries, kings and queens may reign for a lifetime, but even a monarch's rule must come to an end at death. The kingdom is handed on to the rule of the next generation or perhaps divided among others. That can never happen in the kingdom of our Savior Jesus Christ. His reign extends over "a kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end."
The prophets who foretold Jesus' coming often spoke of His eternal reign. Speaking of His Son, who would be a descendant of King David, God said, "I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever" (2 Samuel 7:13b). Isaiah said of the Child to be born to us: "Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7a). The angel Gabriel told Mary that her divine Son would receive the throne of His ancestor David and "of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:33b). At Jesus' birth, angels celebrated the peace that would mark His reign. Wise men worshiped Him and offered Him kingly gifts.
Not everyone believed that Jesus was a king. His enemies denied His lordship over their own lives and sought to stop any potential kingdom before it could begin. The King was crowned with thorns and lifted up to die on a cross, but even this could not bring His reign to an end. The conquering King overcame death itself and was raised to reign at God's right hand. Jesus' kingship is not based on military might or campaign promises and political platforms. Jesus' kingdom is based on His steadfast love, the love that led Him to the cross to atone for the sins of the world. "The tide of time" will never remove His covenant of love. By faith we have been brought into Jesus' kingdom, and our lives reflect the love of our King. As He gave His life for us, so we too seek to give our lives in service to others. There are no term limits on our King, and there are no term limits on the love we share in His Name.
WE PRAY: Jesus, King of kings, work through my words of witness and works of love to extend Your kingdom. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," which is number 398 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are the pros and cons of how we elect officials in this country?
2. How does God's kingdom differ from the kingdoms/nations of this world?
3. How can we be good citizens in God's kingdom on earth? What are some things that all His citizens should be getting better at?
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 23-24 Matthew 17
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