Author: Jennifer Cornwell, Attorney at Law

Christians are a part of an unseen kingdom, and Jesus is our King.  In John 18:36, Jesus said, “…My kingdom is not of this world…” (KJV).  As the only begotten Son of the Most High God, Jesus is not only Deity, but He is also royalty.

Since Jesus is our King, we are His subjects and should carry ourselves with dignity and honor.  We should also do what Jesus says.  When Jesus arrived on the scene, He gave us a new commandment: “…that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13: 34-35 KJV).  This was not just a suggestion but an edict from our sovereign King.

Obeying this edict causes us to be identified as subjects of Jesus’ kingdom.  If we are undignified, quarrelsome, or unloving, people will not be able to recognize that we are royal subjects of Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus’ subjects do, indeed, fight and go to war, but we do not fight people. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV).

When we become believers, the Most High God adopts us as His children (Galatians 4: 5-7).  Since Jesus is the begotten Son of the Most High God, we become his little sisters and brothers.  What are some things that a big brother does for his younger siblings?  He protects, helps care for them, watches them, speaks up for them, sometimes fights for them, scolds them, sets an example for them, teaches them, gets them out of trouble, loves them, etc.  Jesus does all of this for us and more.

Jesus also shares His inheritance with us.  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:16-17 KJV).  Jesus is not a selfish big brother.  He wants to share with us. In fact, He instructs us to use His name to get what we need. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 13-14 KJV).

Jesus is also not a jealous or envious Big Brother.  Jesus does not mind if younger siblings achieve more than He achieved while He walked the Earth.  In fact, Jesus is counting on us to do more.  “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12 AMP).

Whether you are a male or female, if you belong to Jesus, you have a role as His wife, and He has a role as your husband.  Jesus needs a mutual loving relationship with us; nothing and no one should be more important to us than Jesus. “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”   (II Corinthians 11:2).

A good husband does not want a wife who puts other people or other things ahead of him.  However, human husbands understand that their wives are limited and may not be able to put their husbands first all of the time.  Jesus does not accept that excuse, however, because we can always be with Jesus in spirit.

How can we be with Jesus spiritually all of the time? His Word instructs us: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17 KJV).

Jesus wants to be in a relationship with us spiritually. Since our spirits are not limited by bodies, we can fulfill our wifely duties to Jesus everywhere we go.  He does not want a part-time wife, who knows Him only at certain times. Jesus promises: “… the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32 AMP).