Yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen marked 70 years as monarch. It is a reign that has consistently reflected her steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
She has often used her traditional Christmas message to speak of forgiveness, Jesus’ sacrificial life, the fact that no one is beyond God’s love and the example that she herself takes from Jesus.
And in 2020, she used her first Easter message to encourage the nation to ‘take heart from the risen Christ’.
‘Love of God’
At the end of last year, the Queen encouraged the Church of England to continue in its ‘supreme task’: “to bring the people of this country to the knowledge and the love of God”.
In a speech delivered before the Opening Session of the 11th General Synod, Her Majesty reminded the gathered assembly that, while many things have changed over the years, “the Gospel of Christ and his teachings” had not.
She added that this Gospel continued to bring hope “as it has done throughout the ages”.
Service
These are the most recent examples during a reign in which she has repeatedly highlighted her role as a servant of Christ, as well as the nation.
In 2014, the Queen said: “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.”
In 2012, she highlighted that Christmas is the time of year when we remember “that God sent his only son ‘to serve, not to be served’”.
“He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ”, she added.
Forgiveness
The previous year, she said: “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.
“Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.”
The Queen surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in Britain in 2015 – having been on the throne for 63 years and seven months.