David O.F.W: Part 7 - Rocky Road to the Throne

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The journey to having Christ fully reign in our lives often parallels David's difficult path to becoming king over all Israel. Just as David faced a lengthy period between being anointed and fully ascending to the throne, believers frequently experience challenges in moving from initial salvation to complete surrender to Christ's lordship.

Partial Submission's Cost

When David initially became king of Judah, he faced resistance as Saul's son Ishbosheth was made king over the rest of Israel. This division led to civil war and bloodshed. Similarly, many believers try to maintain divided loyalty - wanting Jesus as Savior while retaining control over parts of their lives. This partial submission inevitably leads to internal conflict.

Scripture makes clear that Jesus must be Lord of all - we cannot accept Him merely as Savior while rejecting His sovereign rule. As Acts 10:36, Revelation 19:16, and Philippians 2:11 affirm, He is "Lord of all."

The Cost of Internal Warfare

When believers live with divided loyalty, they experience ongoing spiritual warfare as described in Galatians 5:17 - "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other."

This internal conflict wastes precious time and opportunities in our Christian walk. Just as Israel's civil war led to needless casualties, our resistance to Christ's full lordship results in:

Wasted time in service to God
Lost opportunities for ministry
Damaged testimonies
Diminished spiritual growth

The Path to Peace

True peace comes through complete surrender to Christ's lordship. This requires:

Acknowledging our relationship to Christ through His blood
Recognizing our responsibility to serve Him
Accepting God's revelation that Jesus is Lord

Like David's eventual coronation over all Israel, believers find rest when Jesus fully reigns in their hearts. This surrender isn't a one-time event but a daily choice to wave the white flag and allow Christ's rule.

As Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Real love for Christ manifests in complete submission to His lordship. The Christian life isn't about adding Jesus to our existing plans, but surrendering everything to His sovereign rule.

Practical Application

We must examine our lives for areas of retained control - unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, or priorities that compete with Christ's lordship. Daily surrender involves:

Regular self-examination
Immediate repentance when convicted
Choosing obedience over personal preferences
Maintaining eternal perspective
Remembering Christ's sacrifice that purchased us

True peace and joy come not from circumstantial blessings but from having Jesus properly enthroned as Lord of our lives. The path may be difficult, but the reward of full surrender is worth every sacrifice.