1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

In reading this I lost track of how many musical arrangements have been created with these words. This is certainly a glorious example of David’s gifting as a Psalmist before the Lord. That said, the words are more than just inspiring to sing. We need to let them sink into our minds and hearts, grasping the deep truths they represent. One thing that hinders that, I think, is the way we almost always represent YHWH, the covenant name of God, as LORD, and then we downgrade it to simply Lord. As came out just yesterday, Westerners have very little grasp of what monotheism really means. We forget, and many Christians don’t even know, that Baal is also translated Lord. We need to be very careful what Lord we serve! It is of utmost importance that the New Testament confession of faith for salvation is, “Jesus is Lord.” That’s what got so many believers killed, because the Roman Empire demanded that its subjects say, “Caesar is Lord,” and a genuine follower of Jesus Christ wouldn’t say that. This is an issue today in Moslem countries, as well as in communist ones like China and North Korea. A doctor from Shanghai recently told me that in his experience Chinese communism is a religion, which is why they crack down on every other religion. Western Christians can’t know how to deal with such things unless they genuinely understand the implications of their own confession, Jesus is Lord. To get back to this verse, it is actually a very joyful thing indeed that the Creator reigns, that He is Lord of the universe and there is no other. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “May Your name be acknowledged as holy. May Your rule and reign be established and Your will be done in the earth, just as it is in heaven.” When that is current reality, every problem disappears!

Japan is currently not a Christian nation by any means, and in recent years America has been getting very far from its Christian roots. I must never take anything for granted, but actively seek and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every situation. I need to remember that I am an ambassador, a representative of the Kingdom of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) My words and my actions are to be in full alignment with and submission to the will of my Lord. A Japanese pastor was recently elected to the Upper House of the Diet, and there are a number of ordained people in American politics. I don’t have any such title, but I must never discount my potential for influence, because God can do anything at all through anyone who is fully yielded to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I had a disturbing dream this morning of being given an astronomical amount of money. In the dream and even after waking up I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of it all. Help me remember that You have already provided the riches of glory, not to mention all authority in heaven and on earth, through Christ Jesus my Lord. Help me be the steward of that that You want me to be, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!