Readings

Old Testament: Leviticus 16:1-19
Psalm 57
Gospel: Matt. 6:1-6
New Testament: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

Devotional
Leviticus 16, at first glance, could hardly seem less relevant to the modern church. Blood sacrifices, empty thrones, burning incense... weird, amirite? Until we consider the fact that what is being described in the Tent of Meeting is just that- the place on Earth where God came down to meet with his people as their king. To sit on his throne, the throne of mercy. To rule his nation, his people. We think of Christianity as a philosophy (something to think) or a moral code (something to do). And Christianity certainly provides those things. But to be a Christian isn't to think something or do something... its to be a citizen of a different kingdom. Kingdoms have Kings, and Jesus is ours. And sometimes in modern life, this insight is lost. We think of ourselves as citizens of America, in which we are Christians. But most Christians throughout history have reversed that order: they thought of themselves as citizens of the Kingdom, incidentally living wherever they are.

On this day in history, 1685, an 18 year old woman named Margaret Wilson was tied to a stake in a tidal river in Wigtown Scotland and drowned when the tide came in. Her crime? She was a Covenanter- someone who swore that they would accept no king over the church except Jesus Christ himself. You can read more about the Covenanters (who are in our heritage) here. We would not agree with everything a Scottish Covenanter believed. But their refusal to accept earthly kingship over the church led them to positions which (at the time) were extremely countercultural, but in retrospect were... holy. Covenanters opposed slavery on biblical grounds, for instance, from the time they came to America. They marched to a quirky rhythm, and endured persecution for it, because they were convinced that Jesus was their political authority, and they were determined to bring that it into physical existence.

It is difficult to imagine this sort of conviction today. And we aren't often sure how to apply it. But the martyrdom of Margaret Wilson invites us to at least ask the question- what does it mean, really mean, for us to have Jesus as King- not just over our interior lives, or our ethics... but over our world?

Hymn
The Lord is King

Prayer
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant
us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way,
the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his
steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.