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Day #33 WE ARE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
» Why is repentance attached to the arrival of God’s Kingdom? When is the last time you repented for your sin? Maybe it’s time to do so again and maintain a posture of repentance.
» Just as sin invaded the Garden of Eden, now God’s Kingdom invades our fallen world. How can you participate in this Kingdom invasion today? Be specific.
» What do you seek most in life? What will it take for you to seek God’s Kingdom more than you seek anything else? Is that even possible?
» Practice the memory verse.
QUOTE
“It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn’t want our success; He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.”
- Charles Colson
SCRIPTURE
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Philippians 3:20
DEVOTIONAL
Jesus’ ministry on earth was dominated by one primary message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) The Kingdom is mentioned 126 times in the gospels, yet it is not simply de ned anywhere in the New Testament. However, the Kingdom of God, as a concept was very familiar to the Jewish people. It had been told to them, by prophets and by God Himself, that “...the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44) This was the role they expected Jesus to play, as a conquering King, and is why many of them did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Rather than bringing war and conquering the Roman empire, Jesus demonstrated God’s Kingdom by showing God’s power to heal the sick, open blind eyes, dominate evil, and strengthen the poor. He not only announced the Kingdom, but showed that this was a Kingdom of the Spirit; one that crosses all earthly borders. He modeled Kingdom values and demonstrated Kingdom power so all could see. He pulled back the curtain on the Kingdom of God and invited us to enter into that Kingdom right now. In Matthew chapter six, when He taught us how to pray, Jesus’ model prayer encourages us to make this request of God: “may your Kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth just as it is in Heaven.” The literal translation of that part of the prayer is, “Come, Your Kingdom! Be done, Your will! On earth just like it is in Heaven.” In other words, He taught us to call the Kingdom of God into our space, and command that the will of God find expression right here, right now - just like it does in Heaven.
In Christ we have citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, with all of its privileges and responsibilities. We are to demonstrate the Kingdom of God with our lives as He did - by modeling Kingdom values, demonstrating Kingdom power, and fixing our eyes on the full expression of His Kingdom every day. The Kingdom of God has come!
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By Evergreen Christian CommunityREFLECTION QUESTIONS
» Why is repentance attached to the arrival of God’s Kingdom? When is the last time you repented for your sin? Maybe it’s time to do so again and maintain a posture of repentance.
» Just as sin invaded the Garden of Eden, now God’s Kingdom invades our fallen world. How can you participate in this Kingdom invasion today? Be specific.
» What do you seek most in life? What will it take for you to seek God’s Kingdom more than you seek anything else? Is that even possible?
» Practice the memory verse.
QUOTE
“It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn’t want our success; He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing self.”
- Charles Colson
SCRIPTURE
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Philippians 3:20
DEVOTIONAL
Jesus’ ministry on earth was dominated by one primary message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) The Kingdom is mentioned 126 times in the gospels, yet it is not simply de ned anywhere in the New Testament. However, the Kingdom of God, as a concept was very familiar to the Jewish people. It had been told to them, by prophets and by God Himself, that “...the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.” (Daniel 2:44) This was the role they expected Jesus to play, as a conquering King, and is why many of them did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Rather than bringing war and conquering the Roman empire, Jesus demonstrated God’s Kingdom by showing God’s power to heal the sick, open blind eyes, dominate evil, and strengthen the poor. He not only announced the Kingdom, but showed that this was a Kingdom of the Spirit; one that crosses all earthly borders. He modeled Kingdom values and demonstrated Kingdom power so all could see. He pulled back the curtain on the Kingdom of God and invited us to enter into that Kingdom right now. In Matthew chapter six, when He taught us how to pray, Jesus’ model prayer encourages us to make this request of God: “may your Kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth just as it is in Heaven.” The literal translation of that part of the prayer is, “Come, Your Kingdom! Be done, Your will! On earth just like it is in Heaven.” In other words, He taught us to call the Kingdom of God into our space, and command that the will of God find expression right here, right now - just like it does in Heaven.
In Christ we have citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, with all of its privileges and responsibilities. We are to demonstrate the Kingdom of God with our lives as He did - by modeling Kingdom values, demonstrating Kingdom power, and fixing our eyes on the full expression of His Kingdom every day. The Kingdom of God has come!