Born to rule …

Last year Fox News produced a report that probably didn’t surprise anyone, but likely verified how many feel …

A new study out of England shows that there is an exact time each week that people feel unhappiest.

According to an online article by the DailyMail, most people are most miserable at 11:17 a.m. on a Monday morning. The study by Plusnet says that only a quarter of those polled feel good before midday on Mondays.

The report doesn’t detail why that time on Monday morning is the most unhappiest for so many, but we can guess these people are suffering from the “Monday morning blues.” Let’s face it, many people don’t enjoy their jobs and wouldn’t stay in them if it wasn’t out of the need for the paycheck they make.

It’s a miserable experience to work in a job you don’t enjoy!

A lot of us have enough freedom to choose the work we engage in, but could you imagine being born with a job waiting for you?

A really big job!

That was the reality for Jesus Christ. We tend to focus on the birth of Jesus being the coming of the Messiah, the One who would save the world from sin. That’s a big purpose! But Jesus was also born to a big job, that of ruling over all His creation forever …

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders …” – Isaiah 9:6a.

It’s only through the rule of Jesus that this world will know just, competent, and benevolent governance …

“And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” Isaiah 9:6b-7.

Being reminded of this on the heels of a horribly contentious presidential election season is a great gift this Christmas. Jesus didn’t come just to settle the issue of sin, but to lay the groundwork for His ruling forever — the “government will rest on his shoulders” for all eternity as He reigns forever!

But it actually gets better … we get to be a part of Christ’s eternal reign!

“This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:11-12.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne,” Revelation 3:21.

As so many look anxiously toward the transition of leaders early next month, let Christmas remind us that the Messiah born on that first Christmas was also born to rule and reign forever!

Scotty