Who's In Charge?

Have you ever seen someone use friendship with a person in leadership or power as an excuse to change the rules to their personal need or liking? Or maybe, just not follow the rules at all? I'm sure you've heard a statement similar to this, "oh, they'll do it differently for me because I know. . ." I call it the 'exception rule'.

A perfect example of it can be heard lately on the news about Obamacare. Legislators who made a law forcing people to go through the government system to get insurance are considering whether or not their staff should have to go through the new system. Hmm.

Well, I'm not here to talk politics. But as you can see the practice of wanting to be exempt from rules is all around us in the physical world. So I have to ask, what about the way we approach the spiritual world? Do you ever act or think this way when you talk to or about Jesus? Or, the Holy Spirit? Or, God the Father?

I think it's a trap we can all fall into. After all, we're accustomed to calling Jesus a friend, or even a brother. And as we spend time praying and studying his word we get to know him even more. But in knowing him this way, do we forget who he is? Do we forget the respect we should show him? Do we slide into thinking we fall into the exception rule and forget all the expectations he has for his followers?

A point shared in the book, Listening to the Language of the Bible, is that in every synagogue is a cabinet, called the ark, which holds the Torah. Many times the words "Know Before Whom You Stand" are written above it. I love that. What a reminder for all of us.

God's not a political leader whom we elected to power. He's not the head of a company who rarely mingles with the peons who run the day-to-day operations. He's so much more than that. He's in charge of all things and this is his planet. Yes we can talk to him openly, but he is still God.

And, we would do well to remember that he can still do all those sci-fi actions you read about in the Old Testament. You know. . .making a donkey speak (Numbers 22), or raising up dry bones to life (Ezekiel 37), or growing a tree up overnight (Jonah 4). Just because he hasn't done them lately doesn't mean he can't or won't. He is after all the King of the universe.

I think if we remember these things, we'll be able to keep in mind exactly who we're standing or kneeling before when we pray.