Sovereign Over What?

By Beth | May 15, 2018

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26

 

Sovereign – “One that exercises supreme, permanent authority…”

The Bible would end this definition right there. But the Dictionary app I use goes on to say, “especially in a nation or other governmental unit,” with considerably more explanation and examples.

“One” should exclude all others – no kings or queens, no state-run governments. There is One Sovereign.

God is God, the Sovereign God who is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15).

The word translated Sovereign in the ESV is also translated “Potentate” in the KJV. Potentate also allows for only One.

This means that there is no power above God. It also means that there is no sphere of life over which He is not the Ruler.

The Bible is clear about this:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12a

Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them… Acts 4:24b

…for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. Psalm 138:2

When we do not recognize God as the Ruler over something, we displace Him with a ruler of our own making. It may be “me” or it may be someone else.

There is no other One trustworthy enough to assign the “sovereign” status. Not a person. Not a state. No. one.

As our Creator, our God is the One who has the wisdom and the power and the might, to direct us and make our Laws. Do we trust Him with all of that?

As Christians, who is Sovereign over us? (I’m not asking who should be, I am asking who is?)

Whose laws will we be guided by to make decisions about…

  • having children?
  • educating our children?
  • ministry?
  • war?
  • what church to attend?
  • work outside of home?
  • who we vote for in elections?
  • deciding “pro-life” or “abolitionist”?
  • Bible study?
  • charities that will get our money or volunteer hours?

There is only One Sovereign Ruler of all that is, The Alpha and the Omega, who was and is, and is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). All thanks and worship belong to Him.

How do we respond to Him as Sovereign God?

 

Posted in Regular Posts