Happy Birthday Your Majesty

Today we celebrate the Queen’s Birthday. Actually her real birthday was in April. But in New Zealand we celebrate it in June with a public holiday. God Save the Queen!

As Monarch of England and the Commonwealth, I am sure that Queen Elizabeth would have received many an extravagant gift. In fact, she has been gifted unusual items – from a dozen tins of tuna, eggs, a box of snail shells to a canary, jaguar, sloths and even an elephant.

Buckingham Palace may not recognise me as one of the Royal Family. The Duchess of Cambridge is not my sister-in-law and I’m pretty confident that I’m not a long lost descendant from the Tsars. But I am and will always be royalty. A daughter of the King of Kings. A Princess.

A few years ago a movie was produced called Elizabeth, based on the life of Elizabeth I. A powerful and strong leader, a successful monarch who led England through turbulent times. But before she came to the throne her half sister Mary was Queen. Mary wanted to do everything in her power to keep Elizabeth from reigning as queen, even going to the extent of having her arrested. When the guards came to take Elizabeth away she is bewildered and fearful for her life. In the movie just before the guards hauled her away her friend said to her “remember who you are” This friend wanted Elizabeth to remember that no matter what her enemies said or did to her, nothing could negate her rightful position and she should hold her head up high. She was a princess. She was royalty.

We need to think the same. It doesn’t matter what you are facing in life or where you’ve been. It doesn’t matter what you have or where you live. You are royalty because of your birthright in Christ. So remember who you are!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”    (Romans 8:16,17)

Time to put on that crown, even if it is invisible.