Let Him Reign Supreme

INTRO.- eHarmony.com. Have you ever heard of it? They advertise on TV all the time. Here is what their website says: eHarmony is America’s #1 trusted relationship service.

That may be but where does the Lord come in? Don’t people realize that the Lord knows more about relationships than anybody else? Why not consult Him?

ILL.- Over 10 years ago this article appeared in the Southern Illinoisan newspaper. The article was about a 60 year-old man named Rob who was looking for love. He was a retired police officer, who said, “I’m 60 years old, feel like 35 and act like 15.” No wonder he couldn’t find love!

Rob spent an estimated $2,000 over two years on personal ads, voice mail singles greetings, ads in a Christian singles magazine and some Matchmaker publication.

His ads drew replies from all over the country and all over the world. He had a long-term phone courtship with one Christian woman who seemed to be his ideal woman. When she flew in from out of state to meet him, she wanted to spend the entire weekend reading Scripture to him. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

Rob said, “I couldn’t wait to take her back to the plane.” He also said, “I’m physically fit, active, work out three times a week at a gym, own my own home, am financially secure, don’t drink or smoke, an am extremely honest with people.” SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD CATCH FOR SOME WOMAN. But here’s a part of the problem. HE’S PICKY. He wants an extremely pretty, petite woman between the ages of 30 and 45. He said, “I learn more from what they don’t tell me from what they do tell me.”

He said, “If they say, ‘I’ve never been married’ and they’re older than 30, I run like the devil!”

Or, “If you ask when they ended their last serious relationship and they say ‘Monday last week,’ I put on my Nikes!”

After a couple years’ practice Rob has modified his playing style. He said, “I don’t meet someone for dinner on a first date. I’ve bought too many dinners for too many women who have absolutely no interest in what I want out of life. Now I just meet them for coffee.”

What a guy! It sounds like he’s too picky and I wonder if he ever found a woman to marry!

Everybody needs to love and be loved. And hopefully, we realize that the love of our life should be the Lord Jesus. When we consider what He’s done for us and what He will do for us eternally, how can we not love Him?

Matt. 22:36-38 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

The greatest thing we can do in life is to love the Lord with our whole being and serve Him. Because of who He is and what’s He done for us we should let Him reign supreme in our lives.

PROP.- Our text in Col. 3:15-17 is all about letting Christ reign supreme in our lives. Here is what we should do/must do:

1- Let the peace of Christ rule

2- Let the word of Christ dwell

3- Let the name of Christ live

I. LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE

Col. 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

ILL.- Stan Mikita, a 1960’s Canadian professional hockey star, used to get into a lot of fights during games. He stopped when his eight-year-old daughter asked a very grown-up question: "How can you score goals when you’re always in the penalty box, Daddy?

And how can the church grow and win souls if she is always fighting? Could this be one reason why the Lord’s church doesn’t seem to be growing in America?

ILL.- A Baptist preacher friend told me recently about a church in southern IL who just fired their preacher. The congregation voted 350 to fire him and 150 to keep him. I assume that he left the church and he may have tried to start another church.

My friend told me about another church in southern IL where the janitor told the pastor that it was evident that he did not love the people in his church. Wow and ouch! Ouch for that preacher! As far as I’m concerned if this is true, he shouldn’t be in the preaching ministry!

ILL.- A Methodist preacher friend in Ohio has been writing me recently, telling me there are some people in his church who are trying to split the church over an associate minister in his church.