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1 Peter 5:11
“To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
This sounds like parts of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” and “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Matthew 6. It’s more than a proper way to end a letter. His dominion is a future reality and a present task that God seeks enact through us.
How is this done? It’s done in two way. It’s first done to us. When we come to Christ, we make Him our lord and Savior. The Lord part refers to His kingly rule. This is a lifelong process. He doesn’t address all of our issues and demand instant change. Nor does He expect us to do this ourselves now. He tends to be more patient with us.
He brings to things to our attention every once in a while. It’s not associated with guilt. We’re usually in agreement, but we often can’t see how we could change. Sometimes change comes easy other times we cry out in frustration. Change comes. God’s reign spreads through our lives.
Sometimes it’s just management. Paul said in Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” One of Paul’s life long struggles was what he labeled his “thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12:7. It kept him from being overly proud. This is another way The Lord spreads His rule in us. He keeps us dependent on Him.
The second way God’s dominion is established is through us. First to us, then through us. These happen simultaneously. He doesn’t wait till we’re mature in the faith. It happens right away. We are His witnesses. We simply tell what’s going on.
A great example in the bible is When Jesus healed a leper in Mark 1. Jesus told him to tell no one, but the priests. But he couldn’t help himself. Verse 45 says, “Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news.” God does things for us all the time. Speak it. This spreads His dominion to others.
We also go through struggles in relationships and circumstances. We attempt to repair them in a respectful way. Or we go through an issue gracefully. Others see this. It’s another advancement of His rule.
Lord, thank You for Your reign and the blessings that go with it. Thank You for all that it gives us and others