Tag Archives: Kingdom of God

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Psalm 25

2 Comments
from dnas2 via Flickr

O Lord, I give my life to you.
Psalm 25:1 (NLT)

I spent the past few mornings on the dock in conversation with my friend, Matthew. As is always the case with Matthew, the conversation meandered like a trail through the woods. We ducked in and out of different subjects and took turns leading. As I look back across the terrain of words that we traversed in our communication, it seems to me that there was a theme that rose out of the constant give and take which was this: the kingdom of God runs opposite of the kingdom of this world and we often miss the most obvious of differences to our detriment.

Perhaps that’s why David’s opening lyric in today’s Psalm jumped off the page at me. It is such a blunt statement of commitment: “I give my life to you.” How often do we approach God about what we expect God to give us?

“Give me safety.”
“Give me health.”
“Give me wealth.”
“Give me a spouse.”
“Give me a child.”
“Give me a job.”

Don’t get me wrong and hear what I am not saying. God makes it clear that He wants us to bring our requests to him. Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive.” I believe, however, that David understood an important principle of Kingdom economics. There is a relationship between giving and receiving. The more we give ourselves completely to God, the more capacity we have to receive the fullness of what He has for us. If we are miserly towards God with our heart, soul, spirit, body, and possessions – then we will be so full of ourselves and the stuff of this world as to have little or no capacity to receive anything God has to give us out of the fullness of His Kingdom.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Deuteronomy 4

2 Comments
Child walking alone
Image by -JosephB- via Flickr

But even there, if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 (MSG)

When my nephew, Sam, was just a little guy about three years old his male spirit kicked in. Curious and wild at heart, the little man set out on an adventure from Grandma and Grandpa’s house wandering down the street in search of a buried treasure, a damsel in distress, or who knows what. With a house full of family young and old, it was several minutes before any one realized that Sam was missing.

I will never forget the desperate search of Sam’s mom, my sister, for her son. The entire family fanned out into the neighborhood, but a bloodhound on a scent has far less passion and intensity than my sister did that day as she searched for her boy. It did not take long before the little wayfarer was found a block or two down the street. Mother and son came walking back to the house together. The three year old Sam was smiling as if he’d had a fine time on his grand adventure. His mother was a basket case of emotions with tears streaking down her cheeks.

When I read today that those who want to find God should seek after him with their heart and soul, I thought of my sister’s desperate search for little Sam. The Kingdom of God is not something stumbled upon. It is not found by random happenstance. God is found by those who actively seek after Him.

Today I am reminded that while I may be a wayfarer on this journey through life, my road is not aimless.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Luke 13

3 Comments
mojo ingredients
Image by chotda via Flickr

Then [Jesus] said, “How can I picture God’s kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use? It’s like a pine nut that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it.” Luke 13:18-19 (MSG)

When I read these words of Jesus, it reminded me of the message we heard in worship yesterday. In a world in which “instant” this and “convenient” that is marketed to us incessantly, I find it easy to want my spiritual maturity to be a simple recipe:

Instant Christian
1 part Jesus
1/2 part prayer
Pinch of knowledge of God’s Message
Dash of church

Directions: Add ingredients into a soul and stir.

I’m reminded this morning that God’s kingdom is not about a moment, but an eternity. It is not a destination but a journey. I look back and see how far I’ve come, but then I look to the horizon and see how far I have to go.

So I begin another hour of another day within another week in another year of the journey. God, have your way in me as I press on.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Psalm 146

1 Comment

Chains. God frees prisoners— he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. Psalm 146:8 (MSG)

It's easy to read God's message with such literal, earthly eyes that we lose sight of the spiritual realities God is communicating. I have never been arrested or incarcerated, so it's easy to gloss over the verse above as though it has no meaning for me. Yet, I am daily captivated by things which aren't good for me. I have two good eyes, but am regularly blind to the needs of others. I can't see God's hand working in me and around me.

I have to remind myself, constantly, that the Kingdom of God is not of this world. It is possible to be physically healthy and spiritually sick. I can have 20/20 vision and be blind to the truth of God's Kingdom. I can walk in earthly freedom while my soul is chained and enslaved.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and shoothead

Facebook readers: spacing and formatting issues occur with the auto import from the original blog post.