My reading Jesus' words: “Repent! The kingdom of God is at hand!” caused me to ask myself which kingdom I am really living in - or living out of.
The USA is not a kingdom, but the culture(s) within which I live, the societal structures that are inescapable, as well as all the stuff that goes on within me out of which I make my moment to moment decisions are all “kingdoms” which want to structure, indeed rule my life.
God’s kingdom is in heaven. There God rules completely. Christ’s kingdom is that toward which history is moving - and will be established completely at the end of time when he comes again.
Yet Jesus came into our situation(s) - and lived amidst the kingdoms of this world. As I too live today just as he lived, what made his life so different from my own? O.K., the answer is apparent: He lived out of the kingdom he brought to rule here among us today!
That kingdom is spiritual - but not just an ideal, just as the kingdoms of our culture and society(non-physical) are real and exert such POWER! Christ’s kingdom too is real - and in the midst of all that which would guide, indeed rule me, I must choose again and again to which kingdom I belong.
O Jesus! Rule in my heart, hold sway in my thoughts and value, bind me to yourself so that you are indeed the KING of my life.
I find so much easier to live in our present culture, to fit in and to follow the crowds over Christ. Encouragement to live each day focused on His Kingdom instead of the kingdoms that surround us.
ReplyDeleteI love the last part and that is indeed my prayer as well. We are surrounded by a culture that points us in every direction but towards Christ. May Jesus always and forever rule my heart!
ReplyDelete@"O Jesus! Rule in my heart, hold sway in my thoughts and value, bind me to yourself so that you are indeed the KING of my life."
His kingdom is "at hand." Oh, how I so often don't see it. It's here but it's not here - not yet. Some of us make long term goals - 5 or 10 years. Many perspectives are yearly, weekly or daily. How often do I keep ETERNAL perspective in mind. How am I guiding (or allowing God to guide) my heart, my values, my retirement goals, my conversations to shape my next 12,000 years?
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying each blog...great insight into God's word and our community! Thanks be to God for allowing this to come together!
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