Recognizing God as King

Friedrich Nietzsche claimed that the “will to power” is the basic drive in human nature. In his view, everything we do is motivated by a quest for more power over the world, others, and ourselves.

Nietzsche was right. The essential temptation in human experience is the first temptation in human experience: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). Each of us wants to be our own God. We want to be king of our kingdom, ruler of our world.

It is only when we recognize how broken we are and how desperately we need God that we turn from ourselves to him. Only when we are spiritually starved will we get off the throne of our hearts and elevate him there. Only when we are desperate will we become dependent.

And when we are dependent, we position ourselves to receive all that our Father wants for his children. When we are dependent, we will follow his leading into his “good and acceptable and perfect” will (Romans 12:2). When we are dependent, we will yield to his Spirit’s power and direction (Ephesians 5:18).

The kingdom of heaven cannot be experienced in any other way.

This kingdom is referenced more than thirty times in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus gave us its most succinct definition when he taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). God’s kingdom comes when his will is done. His kingdom comes when he is king.

The poor in spirit recognize that they need God above everything and everyone else. As a result, seeking his will becomes their highest priority because they see doing so as essential to their spiritual survival.

Remember too: When Jesus first stated that the poor in spirit would be blessed, he spoke most directly to those who claimed to follow him. The Sermon on the Mount has wisdom for all people, but its target audience is us. 

If we want to see the kingdom of heaven made a more present reality in our culture, then this movement must start with every believer choosing to embrace the kingdom in his or her own life first.

Now, pray through these questions:

• Do you seek power over the world, others, or yourself? Why or why not?
• Does your life reveal someone who needs God above everything and everyone else?
• How can you make God the king of your life today?