I want to leave 2025 with one last thought. There is something significant about knowing that God is first, a king. It isn’t necessarily that we pursue or come to know him in the following order. The Lord reveals himself at just the right time and way for each of us. But, at some point, if we step back, we should be able to see, to see rightly, that God as King makes God as teacher as friend as a bridegroom even sweeter. Consequently, as we step back to see God in this way, we should be able to see, to see rightly, our relation to him as a bondservant, a follower, a confidant, and as we prepare for his return, as a helpmate.
God is King, We are Bondservants
King, Creator, Sovereign, Omnipotent, Preeminent, Alpha, Life. These royal attributes of God are evident throughout the Bible. I’m reminded of a mantra from the TV series, The West Wing. “I serve at the pleasure of the president of the United States.” I love that line because it encompasses servanthood, giving up personal rights for a greater cause. Except, our greater cause as children of God is not a mere government, but a kingdom, an everlasting one. We don’t serve without autonomy. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet, we joyfully surrender every part of us to our Creator. This is a recurring theme in Paul’s letters to the church (Romans 1:1). Jesus is King, we are servants giving him glory at every turn. It is not only our pleasure, but it is our very life and life abundant.
If we are honest, knowing God as King is rarely our first pursuit, even if we say it is. Surrendering our rights isn’t easy. Death to self is a mark of maturity. I’ve come a long way, but I’m admittedly still squirming on the altar. Even so, as we mature, as we keep pursuing the Lord, understanding God as king will take its place, and so will becoming a bondservant.
God is Teacher, We are Followers
Teacher, Rabbi, Shepherd. We have this invitation from Jesus to come and learn from him, to follow him, to become like him. This is a lifelong journey. It’s not like we ever graduate from following — we can do nothing apart from him. But in the following, in the leaning, in the yoking up, we go deeper into his heart. With every new season, page, or turn, we are still following his lead. He’s the Good Shepherd (John 10). Life is layer upon layer of his goodness, of becoming a dwelling place for his presence.
God is Our Friend, We are Confidants
Friend, Vine. Surrendering all to our king isn’t mindless servitude. We grow in knowledge and understanding. Jesus concludes his teaching about being the Vine and we being the branches by calling us his friends. He shares with us (confides in us) everything the Father gave him (John 15). There’s a condition, though. Obedience. David understood this. Psalm 25:14 says, The friendship (or secret counsel) of the Lord is with those who fear him; he makes known to them his covenant. I’ve been guilty in the past of wanting to know God’s secrets for personal gain, as a way to promote myself or my worth in the kingdom. It doesn’t work that way. That’s not friendship. When God trusts us with his secrets, it is for his glory and the glory of the kingdom.
What’s intriguing about these four perspectives of God and our relationship to him is how interdependent they are with each other. For example, the only way to surrender all to God is to trust him, but we learn to trust him by following. The only way to fear the Lord is by understanding his kingship, which is understood as we abide, as we befriend him.
God is the Returning Bridegroom, We are the Wife of the Lamb.
Bridegroom, Kinsmen Redeemer, Husband. Our relationship to the returning bridegroom, bridegroom king that is, is to be his bride, to be the wife of the lamb. In Genesis, God said Adam needed a helpmate (Genesis 2). As we prepare for Jesus’ return, we are becoming a suitable helpmate, a co-heir, to reign with him in the new heavens and earth. That’s wild! Once again, we see it’s not about us, it’s about him and his kingdom, but we are invited to become one with him in all of it, and it’s really how he is most glorified — it’s what he has always wanted.
If we were to ask a husband and wife with a healthy marriage who their most trusted friend is, they will name their spouse. Not that there aren’t other friends in their relationship, but there is a level of intimacy shared between groom and bride that begins with friendship and moves from there. It’s the same with Jesus and the church. We never leave the friendship behind, but from there, we grow together. We are becoming a bride who matches his measurements of his reign and rule. He is king, and we are his betrothed. What an honor!
(Side note: I think Esther is a good example of this. She knew she was married to a king. Yet, understood her place and time in the court.)
So, however far we’ve come with the Lord this year, and however far we will press into him in the new year, let’s not grow out of seeing Jesus as King. His kingship makes every aspect of him even more sweet. Following him, being his friend, preparing to be a helpmate, is all the more meaningful when we remember that our teacher happens to be the King of kings, that our friend happens to be Lord of lords, and that it just so happens that we are preparing to be a helpmate to the returning bridegroom king, Jesus.
Happy New Year!
Brave Sparrow 