“Insufficient saviors & the Supremacy of Jesus Christ”  

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” - Judges 21:25

Do you remember the protests we had - the ‘no kings’ slogan chanted?!  In fact, I believe another one is planned for end of march?  I love America. We have the freedom of speech, but peacefully and respectfully!  Although I don’t agree with the negative rhetoric or violence, I appreciate that we as Americans have the freedom to express ourselves and our opinions.  Creator God has even given us freedom and free will.  Free will to accept or reject His Son and His word, but do not be deceived  - there are rewards and consequences for our actions and choices, in this life and most certainly in the one to come for all of us.  I have crossed over in my bible readings this week from the book of Joshua to the book of Judges.  Joshua has died, and the Bible says that “the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua” but now have come to a devastating turn in Judges, “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD…and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers” (cf. Judges 2: 7-11).

I believe the problem in America is because we have no King.  I believe the problem with the church at large is due to the fact that she has dethroned her King!  I’m not referring to an earthly king - but a heavenly King.  The King of kings and the LORD of lords - the Lord Jesus Christ!  In the book of Judges we read of this destructive cycle of: idolatry - oppression - crying out - deliverance.  You see, God would raise up a judge (savior) to deliver His people only to see them go back into their old way of life - over and over again.  In essence, the Judges were ‘insufficient saviors’ because they could not bring about true, lasting repentance - a circumcision of the heart!  Mankind can and has done some good things but it is never lasting nor sustainable due to our fallen nature.  Mankind always goes back to revealing his true colors.  As the saying goes, “ a leopard can’t change its spots.”

But Christ can! He can bring about true, lasting change to mankind.  We (the church) must restore the supremacy of Jesus Christ in our lives!  “…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor.10:5b)… “…that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col.1:18b).  When Christ reigns and rules in the heart of man, when we give Him His rightful place (first place in our lives) as our Savior and Lord - lasting change will come!

Yes, we need a king!  And His name is King Jesus!

Pastor Rodney