I’ve been watching a brilliant TV documentary called “The Frankincense Trail.” which is being presented by Kate Humble. It shows where frankincense is harvested and how over thousands of years it has been used as valuable currency and been transported across the Arabian Peninsula. These programmes trace the ancient journey of frankincense from Oman to Bethlehem.
Each programme has shown part of this journey, and when in Saudia Arabia, Kate Humble meets a very wealthy king. He is filmed handing out ‘favours’ which in this case is money, to meet the needs and requests of his tribesmen. When asked how much he had given away, he indicated that it was a vast amount, but wasn’t too concerned with how much because his resources were so great. He told Kate that meeting needs was all part of his responsibility.
The images of the people on the programme have remained with me; lots of people lining up before this rich king, given just enough time to gasp out their request and then it was on to the next one, as the line moved on. Abraham and Job immediately spring to mind – men so wealthy they had more than enough to bless others.
As I have pondered these images, I felt the Lord speak to me, “You have access into my Royal presence – you are my child and as such you do not have to queue just to have a few seconds in my presence – you have my undivided attention.” This is true for every believer and yet there have been times when I have acted like one of these tribesmen – rushing before the King of Kings with my request and rushing back into my own self-effort and the consciousness of life around me.
A verse from the Psalm came to my mind – somewhat out of context but very pertinent. It is Psalm 110:1 which says “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” You and I have the privilege of access into the presence of the King of Kings and we are invited to sit, to stay, to belong. We can share our hearts, our intimate desires with such a King. We are not strangers or tribesmen, but because of Jesus’ death on Calvary we have been adopted into the royal family and have the benefit of all heaven’s resources – Wow!!
Imagine that rich king pulling one out of the line and saying, “I adopt you, sit here beside me – all I have is yours.” It seems unbelievable, but that is the right we have as a child of God.
Each programme has shown part of this journey, and when in Saudia Arabia, Kate Humble meets a very wealthy king. He is filmed handing out ‘favours’ which in this case is money, to meet the needs and requests of his tribesmen. When asked how much he had given away, he indicated that it was a vast amount, but wasn’t too concerned with how much because his resources were so great. He told Kate that meeting needs was all part of his responsibility.
The images of the people on the programme have remained with me; lots of people lining up before this rich king, given just enough time to gasp out their request and then it was on to the next one, as the line moved on. Abraham and Job immediately spring to mind – men so wealthy they had more than enough to bless others.
As I have pondered these images, I felt the Lord speak to me, “You have access into my Royal presence – you are my child and as such you do not have to queue just to have a few seconds in my presence – you have my undivided attention.” This is true for every believer and yet there have been times when I have acted like one of these tribesmen – rushing before the King of Kings with my request and rushing back into my own self-effort and the consciousness of life around me.
A verse from the Psalm came to my mind – somewhat out of context but very pertinent. It is Psalm 110:1 which says “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” You and I have the privilege of access into the presence of the King of Kings and we are invited to sit, to stay, to belong. We can share our hearts, our intimate desires with such a King. We are not strangers or tribesmen, but because of Jesus’ death on Calvary we have been adopted into the royal family and have the benefit of all heaven’s resources – Wow!!
Imagine that rich king pulling one out of the line and saying, “I adopt you, sit here beside me – all I have is yours.” It seems unbelievable, but that is the right we have as a child of God.
