On living as kings and queens
I have asked Daniel Johnson who is the Executive Director of Harbor Hope, one of our partners supporting Washington’s youth experiencing homelessness, to write this week's HCC Blog.
At 1:30 Eastern Time on September 8th, Charles, Prince of Wales, became Charles III, King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Like his mother, Elizabeth II, who “Went up a tree and came down a queen,” Charles’ title and authority were expanded in an instant.
The reality is that Charles, who was born in a palace, had his station in life determined by blood. Regardless of the day or time, the news of his mother’s passing came, there was no doubt that if he continued to live until her death, he would become a king.
Royal succession is a great reminder to people of faith: Our position is settled regardless of our circumstances. Our self-esteem may be in the gutter, and our behavior may reflect our brokenness more than our elevated place in the divine family. Still, our status as family members of God, our royal position, is never at stake.
Paul writes in the New Testament book of Ephesians (2:8,9): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” What does this mean? That even the faith we use to connect with God is gifted to us. Divine love is largely one-sided.
The breadth and depth of God’s commitment reaches its mic drop moment in something else Paul wrote in his lovingly-crafted masterpiece to the Jesus followers in Rome: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (New Living Translation).
Bottom line? God believes in us when we do not believe in ourselves. Confessing and living out of our position, which cannot be taken from us, is the secret to a prevailing life where grace and love carry us confidently, flaws, failures, and structural weaknesses notwithstanding.
Thank you Daniel for reminding us of God's indefinite love towards us!
Gino Grunberg
At 1:30 Eastern Time on September 8th, Charles, Prince of Wales, became Charles III, King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Like his mother, Elizabeth II, who “Went up a tree and came down a queen,” Charles’ title and authority were expanded in an instant.
The reality is that Charles, who was born in a palace, had his station in life determined by blood. Regardless of the day or time, the news of his mother’s passing came, there was no doubt that if he continued to live until her death, he would become a king.
Royal succession is a great reminder to people of faith: Our position is settled regardless of our circumstances. Our self-esteem may be in the gutter, and our behavior may reflect our brokenness more than our elevated place in the divine family. Still, our status as family members of God, our royal position, is never at stake.
Paul writes in the New Testament book of Ephesians (2:8,9): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” What does this mean? That even the faith we use to connect with God is gifted to us. Divine love is largely one-sided.
The breadth and depth of God’s commitment reaches its mic drop moment in something else Paul wrote in his lovingly-crafted masterpiece to the Jesus followers in Rome: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (New Living Translation).
Bottom line? God believes in us when we do not believe in ourselves. Confessing and living out of our position, which cannot be taken from us, is the secret to a prevailing life where grace and love carry us confidently, flaws, failures, and structural weaknesses notwithstanding.
Thank you Daniel for reminding us of God's indefinite love towards us!
Gino Grunberg