Loyally Toasting the Duke

 
Tonight I attended a dinner at which those gathered were asked to give 'the loyal toast'. The assembled company duly rose, raised their glasses and said "The Queen" before drinking. I did not, though I'm certainly no pasty faced republican. Instead, I toasted "The Duke". As a proud Lancastrian, I know Her Majesty the Queen by her other title: the Duke of Lancaster. It's a little more intimate; a duchy is usually a smaller territory within a kingdom. Same person, different title. 
 
One day, all the world will confess Jesus Christ as Lord: members of every religion and creed, atheists and humanists, popes and pagans. In Phillipians 2:10 we read that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Those who mocked the gospel, persecuted the saints, ignored the invitations to countless evangelistic opportunities, will publicly acknowledge Him they despised, rejected or ignored in life. 
 
All believers will there, too. Their knees will bow voluntarily and in an act of loving worship. But they will confess him as Saviour as well as Lord. Same Christ, but a different title. It is more personal and intimate, used by them who knew and loved Him. 
 
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,” 
and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offence."

1 Peter 2:7-8
 
Image by ErikaWittlieb from Pixabay