April 2016
How many
people do you know who are 89 years old, work 40 hours a week, and have been
doing the same job for 62 years? My
guess is you only know of one – Her Majesty the Queen.
Some
rulers are cruel, self-serving and wicked – we have had some like that in our
own country’s history and there are plenty around the world today – but our queen
has been steadfastly hard-working, humble, self-controlled and good. Why is she like this?
Six
months before her Coronation she made this request of her people: “Pray
that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I
shall be making and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my
life.” She knows that she herself serves
a greater King, Jesus Christ.
The Queen serves us because Jesus served her, as every
Easter reminds us, by laying down His life as a sacrifice for sin. The royal crown is topped by a cross for good
reason. In her 2011 Christmas Day
broadcast the Queen said, “Although we are capable of great acts of kindness,
history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our
recklessness and greed. God sent into
the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important
though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.”
Mark
Greene and Catherine Butler have written a superb illustrated book to mark the
Queen’s 90th birthday. It is
titled ‘The Servant Queen and the King she serves’ and demonstrates, often in
her own words, who has been at the heart of the Queen’s selfless reign. Her Majesty’s own foreword to the book includes
this, “In 1952 I asked the people … to pray for me as I prepared to
dedicate myself to their service at my Coronation. I have
been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for His
steadfast love. I have indeed seen His
faithfulness.”
We plan to obtain some copies of the book to give to
those who would like them. If you would
be interested please speak to a member of the congregation.
Happy Easter!
Graham Burrows
