| Born to Reign - article by Joel Hempel
Every Advent, we sing the Charles Wesley hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (LSB 338), as we did on December 4th. When you all were singing the hymn, I was not. I was reading the verses or quietly speaking them. Why? Because I only have a one-octave range, and Jim can’t be expected to transpose a hymn’s melody to meet my needs. But reading and not singing has its benefits. I see things others may miss because when singing a hymn – especially a familiar one, people may not always pay attention to the words. Sometimes, I stop, reread, and reflect on a line that jumps out at me. That’s what happened with verse 2 of this hymn: Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne. Jesus was born not only to reign universally but also to reign within each of us individually. Yes, he is the Savior who came to destroy both Satan’s and death’s grip on us. Yes, he came to take our deserved punishment onto himself and replace it with undeserved grace and forgiveness. But that was only the beginning of why Jesus came among us. The King had and continues to have other intentions for our life: Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. That’s our prayer when we sing or speak that verse: Bring your kingdom, bring your reign, O Lord, into my life – now! Take charge of me, my decisions, my fantasies, my hopes, and my plans. Are we ready for this Jesus? Are we ready for God in Christ to enter into our lives as King and to turn over control to him? He is ready for us! The Spirit of Christ comes to each of us with everything we need to turn over the reigns to him: By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone. There it is, thank God. That’s how we can let God have his way with us. God’s Spirit will equip us and enable us to submit to our Lord’s rule and empower us to lay down our resistance to following him If anyone has not yet asked King Jesus to take over leadership in their life, this Advent is the opportunity given to us so our joy can increase. | 
