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11/7/2020 0 Comments Ne Plus Ultra
Supreme (Latin roots) and sovereign (Middle English roots) are powerful synonyms. To be supreme or sovereign is to hold the highest position of power, dominion and authority. I think of these words whenever there is an election. It seems like we as people get pretty excited or wrought over who is elected. We exert energy advocating or berating, championing or accusing, pontificating and debating the merits of the one elected or chosen to lead.
While this is normal and, in some ways good, it can also become easily misguided. The Apostle Paul gives us very helpful perspective on this. When Christ came, He announced the gospel message of peace. He provided access through the Spirit to God the Father. Consequently, Jesus-followers are fellow citizens with both the saints and the members of God’s household. This association is constructed upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the ne plus ultra, the sovereign and supreme cornerstone (Ephesians 2:17-20). The logical result of this association is explained by Paul to the Philippians. He taught them that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Php. 3:20). We must beware of misplacing our citizenship or forgetting who is Lord over the present and the future. Simone Weil wrote, “Everything that has happened, whatever it may be, is in accordance with the will of the almighty Father. That is implied by the notion of almighty power. The future also, whatever it may contain, once it has come about, will have come about in conformity with the will of God.” Our allegiance, our identity, our hopes are not to be aligned with earthly leaders or nations. We were made for heaven. Our duty is to pray for our leaders. Our responsibility is to worship our God. When we hold the right perspective, at least two things should happen: 1. We should be compelled to share the gospel so that those who don’t know God can gain eternal, heavenly citizenship. 2. We should neither fear or place our confidence in elected leaders over what will or will not happen to our temporary time on earth. Paul challenges us to “Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). We do this until we die or Christ returns. We do this because God, and God only is our Ne Plus Ultra, our Sovereign and Supreme Authority. Meditation 1 Timothy 6:15,16--God will bring this about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; no one has seen or can see Him, to Him be honor and eternal might. Amen. Inspiration People think the White House is where the power is. It’s not. I saw in prison, where people were powerless, that the only power that really mattered was the kind that changes a human heart. And that can only happen through Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.—Chuck Colson in “True Power and Security,” in The Transparent Leader by Dwight L. Johnson ©2020 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB) [1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ne-plus-ultra?s=t#
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