Good Morning Friends,
To have a Kingdom one needs a King. But most of the Kings in the Bible were a sorry lot even when God used them for a divine purpose. Perhaps Jesus in today’s world would have called the Kingdom of God the Network of God or the Dream of God. The thing is that God never sought an earthly design for us, but we may be seeking just that. We impose earthly designs on ourselves all the time when the goal is spiritual. Still the stakes seem high politically in the short term. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to have leaders that glorify God and for us to always serve Jesus who glorifies God. The Bible is clear about the outcomes for leaders who do not glorify God. Sure, we are to submit to authority, but it is clearly best not to submit to waiting idly for Jesus to come back to Earth to rule in the flesh. Friends, we are to be wise regarding the times we live in, so perhaps it would be best to focus our efforts on God ruling in our hearts now, for earthly leaders are ultimately sure to disappoint even if we pray for them and follow them. So, this morning, we seek a heavenly resolution to the problem as we consider the nature of the Kingdom of God in a world of politics.So, Do You Feel The Gospel Of The Kingdom Of God Creating Something New For You And Society?
Scripture: Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’ Then he said to the disciples, ‘The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or “Look here!” Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 17:20-25 (NRSV)
I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
Philemon 1: 7-20 (NRSV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Mark 1:14-15 (NRSV)
Message: Our present task is to work for the Kingdom of God as if Jesus would not return until well into the next century but at the same time be ready if He should return tonight even as we live in the mystery that the Spirit of God is abiding in us this very moment. Applying this to our own lives we learn that this means we must deny our false selves and let the Spirit of Jesus lead us to our true self in the Kingdom of God as part of the Body of Christ, for the Kingdom is Christ in us. It is not about having it our way. It is about focusing on building up the community of believers in love. It is about learning the art of discretion… learning to base our decisions on the freedom of faith but in a way that shows forth our love. In many ways it is reflected in the amazing letter from Paul to his friend Philemon about the slave Onesimus who was also a servant of God. In contemplating today’s scripture, it reminded me that the completion of history itself gives us an opportunity to think in new ways about life and the reality of our own deaths. Maybe that is why Jesus pointed out that every age would have those who would be convinced that the end was near. Interestingly, some people at the time of Jesus thought that the inauguration of the Kingdom of God would be by force and bring the end of Rome. But by adopting the image and humility of Christ we today accept the destiny of submitting to the will of God and consider the idea of the Kingdom being the spiritual as well as a physical invitation to a life in relationship with the divine. Just as the Temple is in us so too is the Kingdom of God. And at its essence, the Kingdom of God for me is the spiritual experience of the King coming to reside in my heart and chiseling away at my desire to sin and birthing in me a new life. And perhaps you have experienced something similar. I think the story of Onesimus paints the picture of three people who have experienced a conversion of the heart and if you too have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, you might realize that God in this way prepares us for the day of our own deaths but also to live lives of love now in a new way. And that opens a revelation that these words on this page cannot explain but can only through the mystery of the Spirit appearing here and there evoke the insight of love that lasts beyond time. We have all heard of cults that predict the end is coming and the sky is falling. I do not put much credence in those thoughts. It moves some to repentance for a time, but it is not long before the revolution loses its resolve. Things of this nature change both fast and slowly. And I do not know the timing of what God has planned, for my life or yours or for all of humanity but believe the final coming of Christ will be unmistakable. I believe it will not be a flash in the pan but a moment of universal enlightenment that will change everything forever. It will be charged with power. But it will not be a flood or the raining of fire and brimstone as with the time of Noah and Lot. It will be the very consumption of history itself but also the release of great power. And the turmoil and travail will be so severe before it that people will pray for Jesus to come in the flesh of a new creation so that the pain will end. For there will undoubtedly be suffering and rejection. So be ready, my friends. The Lord’s purpose will prevail even though we just get a taste of it in the sharing of the Gospel one person at a time. The Gospel according to Mark begins with the story of Jesus saying that” The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.” Mark makes it plain that the Kingdom of God was of paramount importance and more I think than just a Messiah coming. Everywhere the Kingdom of God is on Jesus’ lips. It is like a Sower who goes forth to sow. It is like a costly pearl. It is like a mustard seed. And how does one enter? One sells all one has and gives it to the poor. One becomes like a little child. The people listening to Jesus’ words then perhaps better understood what the Kingdom of God was all about. Today, I am not sure that we are listening to God. For the people of Israel in the time of Jesus understood about the rule of God being tied to their belief they were the chosen people of God and heirs of the promises of God in a Covenant relationship. Some even understood that the Kingdom of God was more than an earthly Kingdom. They understood that the whole world in which they lived was changing drastically. In this reality God gave Israel a destiny as his people through a covenant relationship based on faith and ruled by the law of the covenant of God. God is a God of history in this relationship that demands us to ask a question about today if we hope to understand the Kingdom of God. For some in the time of King David and Soloman surely must have thought that the Kingdom of God had come. For us today the question before us is not unlike that which the monarchy posed for Israel. So, will our destiny as a nation which calls itself Christian be satisfied in terms of the economic prosperity and national might which we created? Or will we seek a higher salvation than our own material best interests? With that in mind consider that the Kingdom of Israel came under judgment. Thankfully a remnant repented and learned to pray quite seriously for thy kingdom to come and thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Interestingly for Israel it was not just a repentance of unethical behavior and the idle luxury it provided but of the problem of idolatry. You can read about this at length in the writings of the Prophets. And eventually this led to the idea of the Kingdom of God being divorced from the Israelite State in its political form but not for me in its spiritual remnant. As civilizations…nations and churches are tossed into the cauldron of history and seemingly destroyed, we need to reflect upon the hope of there always being Remnant, a people of God to work with God for the plan of God. Some in Israel and some all around the world.
And So, in many ways Jesus never left and is still here as is his Kingdom moved by love to exist in the face of all the odds against this reality as we imagine what is to come but is not yet fully consummated. Friends, we were made to seek God, and to seek the paths that will lead us to union with God. That is why Jesus came, for in him we have a model of how to be our best. The Kingdom of God is a dynamic concept in this model. It’s not a kingdom with walls around it. It’s a kingdom that’s dynamically going forth in this world and Jesus talks about it all the time. He is an agent of the kingdom and an agent of change. His gospel is bringing in the kingdom. The kingdom creates a means for us to relate together for a holy purpose and I feel it when it happens, and I hope you do too as we become transformed in order to change the world. So, what happens in the Bible is that there is a Broken Covenant and a New Covenant given that helps to define the nature of the Kingdom of God. For Israel there is a Captivity and a new Exodus that defines their role as that of being a servant. And when Jesus said to his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” He did no less than put on them and us the destiny of a Servant to the world of pagans. There is no hint in Scripture that the visible Church can be or can produce the Kingdom of God. Something invisible is however at work as a dynamically active and victorious force that gives God the glory. This is the Kingdom we can neither create nor abandon. All we can do is be a servant to the cause of Christ for this is the motivating force of the living Church. All we can do is love until all those that God would elect have chosen their future.
Pray we experience the Kingdom of God within us as a relationship with the divine. Pray we realize that this experience is not one imposed by force but by love. Pray we realize that Jesus came to save us all and the very heart of the Gospel message is to affirm that the Kingdom of God is here right now growing in our hearts and minds as a seed planted to grow and bring forth fruit for the healing of the nations and of creation itself. Pray we realize that when we are obedient to God, the Kingdom seems closer. Pray we realize that when we do the will of God on earth as in heaven the Kingdom of God seems richer. Pray that we realize that whenever we plant a seed that takes root in a trusting heart that the Kingdom is growing towards something more like heaven. Pray therefore for the hungry to be fed and the tired to receive rest and the cry of loneliness to be silenced by a word of comfort. Pray therefore for the hand of service to direct the way of salvation and the people to break free from the trap of sin. Pray on this day for an end to injustice, rebellion, and pain. Pray for Jesus to rule in our hearts now and in the Kingdom to Come. Pray we realize the power of the Gospel to change lives for a Kingdom ruled by God. Pray we realize that God is always among us and does not turn His back on us even when we turn our back on God. Pray we are strengthened by the Spirit so we might witness the presence of God and His Kingdom today.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 