As Things Pick Up, Let Us Resolve To Be Dedicated And Dutiful
As September is a month of picking up again, a sort of new year, it would be a reminder that we should resolve to be dedicated and dutiful to the things God has put in our hands. As most of us would have seen by now, Queen Elizabeth II passed away yesterday at the age of 96 and the one thing that came to mind when thinking about her was loyal duty.
Elizabeth II wasn’t supposed to be queen. But, when her uncle abdicated, her father had to take on the responsibility. Her father, King George VI could have said no, and lived a less public life, but then an uncle would have taken the responsibility. There’s something about most English monarchs, they rise to the challenge and submit to the crown. A mirror to Jesus who rose to the challenge, came to earth to share the Good News, and submitted to God’s will for humanity’s salvation.
And while Elizabeth II would have preferred a life in the country with her animals, out of the limelight and the pressures of the crown, she rose to the challenge and resolved to be loyal and dutiful, not matter how she felt.
Now, I realize that Holy Spirit does lead us to sometimes withdraw or leave a commitment. And when He does this, if we are truly in Him, we will know that we know He has asked us to pull out of whatever it may be. But, if God is not asking us to stop a thing, resolve in this time of things picking up again (this season where schools, universities, the UN, the US Congress, and Parliaments go back into sessions) to be faithful, dutiful, and loyal.
Colossians 3: 23-23 charges us to:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
Stay in that marriage as long as it’s not harmful to you and work it out; stay the course with your kids who may be wearing you down emotionally- don’t give up on them in prayer at least; press into God if you should stay loyal to that difficult job; continue to lead that group through criticisms might be high; press on with where you’re at.
For her 21st birthday speech on April 21, 1947, Queen Elizabeth said to the British people:
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
For 70 years and 214 days she stayed the course and kept that promise, staying dedicated and dutiful to her role and the British crown. There’s something learn from this kind of resolve and loyalty, something for us all to take away.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”