Follow the greatest King of all

Being Queen has put Her Majesty in a very, very exclusive club in fact they don’t come much more exclusive than that.

However our present queen has been in several other exclusive clubs for a few years now.

She is the only monarch to reach 60 years of marriage (and now beyond) and her Majesty is also the oldest ever in the history of our monarchy. Along with Henry III, Edward III, George III and Queen Victoria she makes up one of five monarchs to have reigned for 50 years. Then if she makes it to Monday next, February 6 2012, our queen will become part of an even more exclusive club. Along with Queen Victoria she will become only the second monarch to reach 60 years on the throne. Some will want to celebrate such as life, like us in Randalstown Parish who are holding a Jubilee exhibition on February 4-6 while others won’t care in the slightest. So why have I mentioned the above? For the following reason. Having clocked up 60 years of service I believe it is fair to say that Queen Elizabeth II has given exactly that.........60 years of service.

In one of her Christmas addresses the Queen said that it was the fact that she would, one day, give an account as to how she had lived her life that drove her to live it, on a daily basis, as she tried to do.

One enormous element of that daily life has been serving.

For instance, 10 years ago just a few months before the Golden Jubilee celebrations the queen suffered the loss of her sister and her mother but still she continued with the celebrations because we had all organised parties and she was expected to attend.

She has travelled the world and been the centre of media attention, welcome and unwelcome, simply because, as Queen, she is expected to serve. In Matthew ch 20 v 25-28 Jesus says that if any of His followers are going to be great in their service of Him they must become servants. Humility is to be the order of the day. We are not to build ourselves up to be great. If others view us in that light and say so then we thank them and move on but it is not for us to take centre stage. Of course the Queen can’t help being Queen and, therefore, can’t get out of the limelight. She has done that for 60 years. Not forgetting HRH The Duke of Edinburgh who has clocked up the same 60 years. I, for example, stand at the front of the meeting of the church on a Sunday and many of you also have an up front role in serving God. Why are we to be like this? We are to be slaves and to put ourselves last in attitude and, when able to do so, actual position because we are following the example of the Saviour who gave His very life to rescue mine from hell. Disciple!!! You and I are called to follow the example of the greatest of all Kings and to give ourselves to His service as He has given Himself in serving us. While you may or may not wish to honour a great servant in HM The Queen let’s remember her words that one day we will be held accountable for how we have lived our lives.

Serve Him, show His love and speak Him message which, if taken and believed, will lead to ransom and new life. Then you will belong to an incredible club though not an exclusive one. To follow Jesus and know His love and forgiveness is on offer to any and all who accept it.