ROYALTY

It seems like the closer someone in the British royal family is to the throne, the more we hear about them. Others are almost forgotten. The royal family has a line of succession that includes nearly sixty people. One of them is Lord Frederick Windsor, who’s forty-ninth in line for the throne (at time of writing!). Instead of being in the limelight, he quietly goes about his life. Though he works as a financial analyst, he’s not considered a ‘working royal’—one of the more high-profile family members who are paid for representing the family.

David and Bathsheba’s son Nathan (2 SAMUEL 5:14) is another royal who lived outside the limelight. Very little is known about him since his brother Solomon became king. But while the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew mentions Solomon— tracing Joseph’s line (MATTHEW 1:1)—Luke’s genealogy, which many Bible teachers believe is Mary’s family line, mentions Nathan (LUKE 3:31). Even though Nathan didn’t rule, he still had a role in God’s kingdom.

As Christians we’re also royalty. The apostle John wrote that God gave us “the right to become children of God” (JOHN 1:12). Though we may not be in the spotlight, we’re children of the King! God says each of us is important enough to represent Him here on earth and to one day reign with Him (2 TIMOTHY 2:11-13). Like Nathan, we may not wear an earthly crown, but we still have a key part to play in God’s kingdom.

Thinking it over . . .

How does knowing you’re royalty—God’s child—make you feel? As a child of the King, what do you see as your responsibilities to the people around you?