Healing Rays of Righteousness

A CHILD OF THE KING

Pontius Pilate wanted a simple, quick “yes or no” answer from Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus stood there, ragged, bruised, bleeding, and exhausted after a long night of questioning and abuse. He certainly did not look like a king. There was nothing royal about him. At least nothing that Pilate’s eyes could see.

And after Jesus briefly describes his kingdom, he answered Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:33-37).

When you think of yourself as being a child of the king, do you think of it more often as a costly duty or as a treasured gift? Does being a child of the king seem to you to feel more like dutiful enslavement or privileged royalty? These are good questions to ponder during these weeks of Lenten meditations.

Today we live in a culture that is hostile to the idea of kingship. Kingship is directly opposite the thought of being my own boss, doing what I want to do in disregard to the rights and desires of others. But even though the idea of kingship may be countercultural to our society, the biblical scriptures assure us that it is a gift to those who claim to be Christian, that is, Jesus followers. Those scriptures repeatedly remind us of who Jesus Christ is as the King of Kings, and furthermore, it is because of God’s love and mercy that we are invited to be in relationship with Jesus as a child of the King.

Listen to the apostle Paul telling us that “All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry ‘Abba, Father.’  The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:14-17, ACB).

As children of God, and together with Jesus, we are co-heirs of God’s glorious eternal kingdom, and we would enrich ourselves by thoughtfully meditating on all the heavenly treasures that are presently ours to enjoy, as well as what awaits us throughout eternity. And as children of God, should we not be daily enjoying the rich blessings that belong to us as heirs of God’s riches? I think “Yes!”

Harriett Buell wrote a hymn while walking home from her Methodist church service that encourages us to think more intentionally about our relationship with God. The hymn is titled “A CHILD OF THE KING.”

My Father is rich in houses and lands; He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!

Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full – He has riches untold.

Chorus:   I’m a child of the King, A child of the King!

With Jesus, my Savior, I’m a child of the King!

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men, once wandered o’er earth as the poorest of them;

But now He is reigning forever on high, and will give me a home in heav’n by and by.

I once was an outcast stranger on earth, a sinner by choice and an alien by birth; but

I’ve been adopted; my name’s written down – an heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there!

Tho exiled from home, yet still I may sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

Amen, and Amen! THANK YOU, JESUS!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 3/19/26

HE LIFTED ME

The six weeks of Lent are for remembering and meditating on the goodness of God as we make our annual worship journey with Jesus toward the bloody cross and empty tomb. This journey is meant to annually remind us of the incredibly significant, costly, and awesome act of God’s love in rescuing us from the dark pit of sin and reclaiming us as his beloved children.

I confess to sometimes viewing my Christian privilege lightly, unintentionally forgetting the immense debt of sin that enslaved me and the unimaginable immense love of God in rescuing and setting me free. I truly need these annual weeks of Lent to keep reminding me of how easy it is to forget from where I have come in my journey of trusting dependence on God, how dramatic my many rescues have been, and the many great reasons I have for heartfelt gratitude and singing. I recently was reminded that the good news of Jesus Christ and singing are inseparable. Jesus’ birth was announced with angelic singing.

For that reason, I like to read Psalm 40 as appropriate for my Lenten meditation. In this psalm David lists the many reasons he has for singing. I am encouraged by David’s sharing of his time of crying out to God and God’s hearing response, which caused him to sing, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” (Psa. 40:2-3). I invite you to read the entire psalm, inserting yourself as the writer.

In this psalm, David is seeing the world from a different perspective, that is, of trusting God and being lifted up and out of the slimy pit of fear and doubt. David does not reveal the nature of his horrible pit, but he does say that when he cried out to God, the Lord heard him and delivered him from his pit of despair, giving him a new song of praise to sing.

I remember God hearing my cry and lifting me out of sinking sand to solid rock, from shades of night to plains of light, from terrible bondage to marvelous freedom. And with each deliverance, the Lord also put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. One of those songs was written by Charles Gabriel, who died a few years before I was born, but his song always fills my heart with worshipful praise.

                                             HE LIFTED ME

In loving kindness Jesus came my soul in mercy to reclaim,

and from the depths of sin and shame thru grace He lifted me.

               He called me long before I heard, before my sinful heart was stirred,

               but when I took him at His word, forgiv’n He lifted me.

His brow was pierced with many a thorn; His hands by cruel nails were torn

when from my guilt and grief, forlorn, in love He lifted me.

               Now on a higher plain I dwell, and with my soul I know ‘tis well;

               yet how or why, I cannot tell, He should have lifted me!

                                             Chorus:               

From sinking sand He lifted me; with tender hand He lifted me;

From shades of night to plains of light, O praise His name, He lifted me!

David’s song was a song of confidence in God for provision, protection, and deliverance. With his feet firmly placed on God’s solid foundational rock, he can sing with joyful confidence, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psa. 23:4).

I can assure you that the joy of the Lord produces music in the soul and a need to sing it. What new song has the Lord given your soul that needs to be sung?

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” (Psalm 98:1). <><><><><> 

Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 3/4/26