King, for most of us, is a term that summons images of power, wealth and fame. Or at least one of these.

The lion is the king of the jungle. That's power. Louis the XIV was the king of France. That's power and wealth. Elvis was the king of rock and roll. That's fame. Kings, in popular imagination, are mighty in some way - through physical strength, political power, or financial power, or all three.

In the Christian faith we celebrate a much different kind of king. Christ the King had none of the outward signs of royalty that we are accustomed to. If he had physical power to overcome his adversaries, he did not use it. He held no political position. He attained no wealth.

Yet Jesus had the trust of the multitudes. How is this gained without might, position or wealth? He won the hearts and minds of people through his genuine love, service and integrity. In his earthly ministry, he gained the authority of a king, if not the title, through service.

"If you are king of the Jews, save yourself," onlookers jeer at Christ as he is raised on the cross at his execution. This is the king we worship. To all appearances, he is powerless, broken and utterly defeated. What does it mean to worship and honor our king?

We are called to live as he did - to dedicate ourselves to lives of service, prayer and reliance on God. We are to summon the same power that Christ did - not the power of political monarchs and financial tycoons, but the power of God.

As with Christ, the power of God is unleashed through love, service and integrity. We may have strength, authority and wealth, but that does not represent power in the kingdom of God. Our king did not lord his authority over us, and force us to comply with his edicts or cater to his ego. He did not ask us to fight his battles. Instead, he fought our battles, and laid down his life for his subjects.

We are called to do the same. We are challenged to honor our king by emulating his life and his values. We are called to reach out in love and service to the neediest of our communities. We are called to solidarity with the rich and the poor alike because, in the end, we are all dependent on Christ the King for our lives.

Christ the King is, of course, mightier than all the kings of the world combined. The power of the spirit can overcome armies of men, vaults of wealth, and the cunning of cabinets and legislatures. We do not need any of these trappings of power and authority. This is not how success is defined in the kingdom of God. Our kingdom is ruled by an entirely different kind of leader.

The secret to success in God's kingdom is different than in the political world. It is not complicated. It is simply the power of love, service and integrity born of dependence on God.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.