Either rule or be ruled

“Then God said,…‘Let them rule.’” Genesis 1:26 GWT

At creation God said something interesting about humans: “Let them rule.” In other words, He invested you with full authority for managing your life. You serve as His agent on earth to make sure His will is done. But beware. Satan will try to get you to hand your rule over to him or deceive you into believing you have no power and he has it all. Or else he’ll encourage you to rule your life based on your own skewed judgments and distorted views. It’s not until you rule with wisdom and walk according to the precepts of God’s Word that you enter into a complete and comprehensive realization of His design for your life. God reigns over all, but He has given you dominion in your sphere of influence. “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men” (Psalm 115:16 NAS). God empowers you to make right choices and decisions and tailors His reactions to your actions. Sometimes we sit around waiting for God to act, when the truth is, He’s waiting for us to make a move. One pastor wrote that God “has maintained a base of sovereign boundaries, a sphere He will not allow [people] to trespass on…[but] simultaneously opened up a field where we get to call the plays, leaving Him to respond accordingly.” For example, if you want to reap bountifully, you must sow generously. If you want to be forgiven, you must forgive others. And if you want to walk in His blessings, you must walk in obedience. You are called to “reign in life by…Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

Bible in a year: Neh 10-11 and Rom 9:1-15