Who or what reigns in your life and body?

But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6 Before Jesus said these words the Pharisees were questioning why Jesus was allowing his disciples to pluck and eat corn on the Sabbath because that was unlawful. It is human nature to hold tight to our ways, to traditions and beliefs regardless of whether they are true or not. When we are taught a certain way we build everything on that. We commonly elevate our circumstances, church, traditions, family, education, sickness, science, etc.. above the Lord. Verse 8 says, "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." A few things I've been thinking about lately... I've been obsessed with the life of Thomas Jefferson. I always believed he was not a really great man. He was anti God and pro slavery. I have been learning both of those are so far from the truth. The more you learn about our early America and begin to see things in the context of that time new truths are revealed. Thomas Jefferson did own slaves, many slaves. He also loved to read and learn. He loved the bible and was fascinated by the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you read some of His writings you can feel his struggle between what he grew up believing to be true and what the gospel taught. He was considered rebellious and anti God because we was learning beyond what he was taught. His thinking was radical. He was being led by the Holy Spirit. He knew slavery was wrong but it was illegal for him to set slaves free. Him and many others passed multiple laws to abolish slavery and the King of England said no. England had slaves and the King was pro slavery therefore the American colonies would be forced to be as well. Thomas Jefferson inherited slaves from his father and his inlaws. The only slaves he purchased were done so to keep families together. He was also against harsh punishments for slaves but because of the ridicule and culture he was not able to stop it. This was a new thing to people of that time and he had to tread lightly especially if he was going to be as influential as he was. I am not at all condoning slavery or trying to make light of it. The point I'm trying to make is that aren't you glad that someone along the line looked at what the church was teaching, what the bible said and what was going on around them and started asking questions and even to the point of stirring up a rebellion? Although he was not the final end to slavery he was a key part to the beginning of the end as were so many others. So many of us just go with the flow, we follow the rules, do as tradition says. We stay in spiritually dead churches because that's where our parents went or it would stir up strife if we left. We are taught not to question our legislators, doctors, big industry, or any of their practices. After all there is no way we could possible know better than them. There was a time where doctors recommended smoking. The science was settled, smoking did not cause cancer. Aren't you glad now that someone decided to question and even to the point of rebellion. Sure there were people who ridiculed and called those who chose not to partake names and maybe worse. Our world is forever changing and yet in so many ways we are constantly repeating the past just in different ways. Only Christ will truely set us free and until we acknowledge that the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of science, Lord of your health and Lord of circumstances then you will remain enslaved and limited by whatever it is that you have not submitted under the name of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:9-11 says, "wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every sickness, every disease, every lie even vaccine injury, every church tradition and doctrine must submit and come under the name of Jesus. Only that which we allow to reign may remain and rule in our hearts, mind and body. For me and my family we serve the Lord, not fear, not sickness, not man. What or who are you allowing to be Lord over you?