Your Throne #410
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Your Throne #410
It’s difficult to give up control of something. We like to be in charge and decide what happens next. Whether it's a project at work, a family decision, or even a personal one. After all, it's our life, isn't it? But is it really?
I don’t think I’m the only one wrestling with what it means to allow Jesus Christ to be the Lord of my life. Not as Savior, but as Lord. After a sermon on Sunday, I walked out of church convicted about the teeter-totter life I’ve been living: I expect Him to lead parts of my life, but I am still unwilling to get off the throne in other areas. The worst part is that once He's on His rightful seat, we sometimes try to take that seat back.
Think about when we invite Jesus into our lives. We ask Him to forgive our sins, bless our families, protect us, and answer our prayers. But it’s when He directs us somewhere we don't want to go, asks us to change something we're used to, or give up something we hold on to, that we hesitate. We want Him close enough to save us one day, but not close enough to tell us what to do today. Like a Savior who serves us rather than one we serve.
Jesus addresses this in Luke 6:46 (ESV), "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
Let His words sit with you a minute and be honest with yourself. Are you truly following Jesus, or are you expecting Him to follow you? Are you asking Him to sit beside your throne, or are you getting up from it to let Him sit where He belongs? Sure we can attend church, read our Bibles, pray, and believe we're doing just enough. But is that really surrender?
I’ve learned that surrendering control isn't a one-time decision. It's a daily choice to get off the throne and resist the temptation to climb back on. And that’s hard, but sometimes giving up control is, even on the little things.
I've spent years encouraging people to live their legacy, and I stand by that. But perhaps the greatest legacy we can live isn't the one we try to build, earn or achieve ourselves. It's the one that reflects His purpose through us and brings glory to Him. That doesn’t mean doing nothing; rather, we live, work, and make decisions as if Christ were on the throne. Our accomplishments will no longer be the goal, but living a legacy for His purpose will be.
When I think of legacy, I imagine the day I meet the Lord: before I walk on the streets of gold, He shows me the Book of Life, and I see the names of my wife, children, grandchildren, and others written too. He turns to me and says, “Your faith, your example, and your surrender to Me helped make a difference in their lives.” That would be an awesome legacy.
One last time, who's really sitting on your throne? Today is the day you get up from the seat and let Him have the throne back in at least one area of your life. Then tomorrow, do it again. Because your best legacy will be the one you let His legacy live through you.
Today is the day to live your legacy. Visit lighthouselegacies.com, and I’ll join you on the journey. Also, listen to The Living Your Legacy Podcast. You can purchase a copy of the 40 Day devotional on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HH2J4863
