To Reign Now

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (New International Version)

I remember reading Romans 8:1 several years ago, and for the first time realizing when it said, “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” that it was talking about the here and now (not just some far off time in Heaven). It was my first of many moments of seeing God in a different light and seeing my Christianity in a new way. Today’s verse recently gave me the same experience. In the past I have always seen the phrase, “reign in life” as simply our reign with Christ in the Millennium. Quite frankly, it meant very little to me in the present…until now.

When I read this verse yesterday morning God once again graciously pulled back the curtain from my eyes and helped me to see that as a believer I am equipped to reign now! To exercise influence and control now! To live life to the fullest, in a real, genuine, active, and vigorous way now! Yes, there is coming a day when we will reign with Christ in the Millennium but He wants me to know that there is plenty of reigning to do now in this life.

While there are some things I have no control over there are plenty of things I do have the responsibility and capability to rule and reign over and to do it each and every day. I am called to reign over my thoughts, my words, my actions, my reactions, my appetites, my flesh, my time, my finances, my interactions with others, and so on. There is absolutely no reason to live as a victim. In Christ we are more than conquerors. MORE!

For one who has spent too much time noticing and nurturing personal hurts, disappointments, and wounds, this is not only a freeing concept for me but an empowering one. Hope and promise have been birthed in me and out of that will come a way of life I am ready to taste and experience. How God delights at each of our “aha” moments!

Father, thank you for once again opening my eyes to Your truth. I smile as I consider all the ramifications that will come of it. Amen.

It's Time - Brian Doerksen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZVxjQOwCW0&NR=1

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16