LifeLink Devotional
Friday, October 27, 2017
Psalms 110:1 – 3 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.

The 110th Psalm is what we call a “Messianic” Psalm – it is a prophecy of the coming Messiah named Jesus. While He was on this earth, Jesus quoted from this Psalm to prove to the Jewish religious leaders that the Messiah would be the Son of God and not just some political hero. (see Matthew 22:42-46) In fact, this Psalm seems to indicate that the Messiah would have very little if anything to do with political and social reformation. His Messianic work would be spiritual in nature, and His followers should have the same focus.

The LORD, who is Almighty God the Father or JHWH (Jehovah), says to the Messiah, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Notice the roles assigned in this command.

• The Messiah is heir to the throne, but JHWH is still on the throne.
• The LORD’s role is to bring all the political and social systems of the world to a point of submission to the Messiah.
• It is only after the Father has completed His work in the world that the Messiah is handed the scepter of rule.
• One day the Father will command the armies of heaven to follow the Messiah into the final battle that will usher in the new kingdom. Until then the Messiah and His followers are not involved in fighting political battles.
• The Messiah’s responsibility is to build the church – the kingdom of heaven – not fight the enemies in the earthly kingdoms.

This is so very critical for the followers of Jesus Christ to understand. When Jesus Christ gave us our commission as His followers, it was not to go and change the world and prepare it for the coming of the Messiah. That is the Father’s job alone. His commission to us was this – “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Our mission, in full partnership with the Messiah and under His authority, is to make disciples.

When the Messiah left this earth to take His place at the right hand of the Father, He sent us the Holy Spirit who indwells us and equips us to accomplish the Messiah’s mission. The role of the third Person of the Triune God is to produce in us the life of Jesus Christ so that we are His representatives in enemy territory.

As His ambassadors, we have been given the authority to take the message of His kingdom to the nations of the world. Our mission? Tell them the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

It is not our mission to change the political structure of the nations. It is not our mission to change the laws of the nations. It is not our mission to overthrow the enemies of the Messiah. That is God’s mission. Our mission is to live out the love of Jesus and His forgiveness for sin and share that message with others. When we do, the Father will rescue them from the kingdom of darkness and place them into the kingdom of His Son whom He loves. (Colossians 1:12-14)

My friends, the day is coming when we will be called to follow the Messiah into battle. But until that day arrives, we have but one task – witness. We will all do it in different ways, but we must do it. Every activity of our lives must be permeated with prayers for people to see the love of Jesus in us. Every day there are sinners who cross our paths – people who are headed into a Christ-less eternity of suffering. As they pass us, do they see Jesus? Are they given a glimpse of hope? Are our lives being lived in such a way that they are drawn to the Messiah?

Leave the fighting of the enemies of God to God. He can handle it. Our role is to show the enemies of God how to be friends with God through the grace of God found in Jesus Christ.

Pastor John