Reading With the People of God #13 Nicene CreedSample

Focus of the month: Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Way of the True King

In 2 Kings 16, King Ahaz rejects God’s ways, seeking power through political alliances and idolatry. Rather than trusting in the Lord, he compromises faith for control, even desecrating the temple to please a foreign king. His reign is a warning—when we chase power on the world’s terms, we lose sight of God’s kingdom.

In Matthew 20:17-28, Jesus reveals a different kind of kingship. While His disciples seek greatness, Jesus redefines it: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” Unlike Ahaz, who grasped at power, Jesus humbles Himself, preparing to give His life as a ransom for many. True kingship is found not in dominance but in self-giving love.

The Nicene Creed affirms that Jesus is the “Lord of all, who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven.” He is the King who does not take but gives, who does not demand but serves. These passages challenge us: Do we seek control like Ahaz, or do we follow Christ’s way of humility and sacrifice? The true King calls us to lead by serving, love by giving, and trust in God’s kingdom above all else.