Anointed by a Great King

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Here is today's communion meditation.

We have been anointed by a great king. To be anointed means that we have been set apart and consecrated for a special purpose. God's anointing is his equipping and empowering for us to function in his strength. I like to think of the anointing like holy sunscreen. It lets us stand and function in God's presence and without getting burned up because he is an all consuming fire. 

In others cultures around the world people will smear olive oil, coconut oil, or some other fat on their skin to protect them from the sun. In the Old Testament kings and priests were anointed for their role with olive oil. I once had a scientist in my gym who was studying the effects of blue light and the impact of being in the sun and I asked her to test olive oil for me. After her tests she confirmed that olive oil blocked the harmful effects of the sun better than anything she had tested. 

In Christ God has anointed us to use his power, gifts, and talents he has given us to go about doing good every day and be a blessing to others. and it is important to remember that we have been anointed by a GREAT KING. In Malachi chapter 1 God says that the people were treating him with contempt through their sacrifices even though he is a great king. He says if they treated their governors the way they treated him that their governors wouldn't be pleased. Imagine the president of your country called and said he needed your help with a special project. Most of us would go out of our way to do an excellent job. We have been anointed by the king of kings. 

We have been anointed by a great king and what is it that pleases him? To obey and listen is better than sacrifice(1 Samuel 15:22), he wants offerings of thanksgiving(Psalm 50), he wants our steadfast love for him and for us to grow in our relationship with him(Hosea 6:6), for us to do good and walk humbly with him(Micah 6:6), and for us to give others mercy and grace. 

In the kingdom of heaven the way to become great is to become the servant of many. God is a great king because he is among us as one who serves.  As we take communion today let it be a reminder that we have been anointed by a great king and we are to honor him and let his great power flow through us to go about doing good each day.