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From Small Beginnings
It’s not that Christians today don’t have a vision for the Kingdom of God. It’s right there in Scriptures, after all. It’s that we hardly think about the Kingdom at all. We’re just not excited about it. Today’s excerpt from The Kingdom Turn can be found on page 102:
“People are motivated by compelling visions. Show us something big, something really desirable and worth whatever it takes to get it, then assure us that it can be ours, and we’ll go all out to attain it.
“Jesus understood this. That’s why we find Him, in so many situations, casting a glorious and compelling vision of the Kingdom of God for His hearers. He commanded us to seek the Kingdom, and He enticed us in that pursuit by powerful images suggesting the beauty, majesty, greatness, and infinite value of the Kingdom of God
“In Matthew 13 the Lord piled parable after parable, image upon image, and metaphor on metaphor to convince His disciples and followers that seeking the Kingdom, while a struggle, is well worth the effort required.
“Jesus began this litany of vision-casting parables by saying that the Kingdom of God has the potential to multiply the fruit of righteousness in those who receive it (vv. 18-23). Like a small and seemingly insignificant seed, the Kingdom of God can grow and flourish and become a haven of rest and spiritual nourishment for us and many others (vv. 31, 32).
“He continued by saying that the Kingdom’s mysterious power can transform that which is unpalatable into something wholesome, delicious, and good (v. 31).
“He explained that, like a treasure hidden in a field, the Kingdom of God is more valuable than everything we could ever own (v. 44).
“Like a fisherman’s net it gathers up people from every walk of life for the purposes of the King (vv. 47, 48).
“He concluded by saying those who embrace and seek this Kingdom gain a mastery over the Word of God that enables them to minister from every section of the Scriptures (v. 52).”
For reflection or discussion
1. When you think about the Kingdom of God, what images or “vision” come to mind?
2. What does it mean for you to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?
Jesus worked to cast a vision of the Kingdom that would help His followers desire and seek it. It seems to me that we should nurture Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom as our own, with all the glorious images and promise He holds out to us. Share today’s podcast with some friends, and encourage them to subscribe to receive Read Moore five days a week. Your free copy of The Kingdom Turn is ready in The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
The post From Small Beginnings appeared first on The Fellowship of Ailbe.
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By T. M. MooreIt’s not that Christians today don’t have a vision for the Kingdom of God. It’s right there in Scriptures, after all. It’s that we hardly think about the Kingdom at all. We’re just not excited about it. Today’s excerpt from The Kingdom Turn can be found on page 102:
“People are motivated by compelling visions. Show us something big, something really desirable and worth whatever it takes to get it, then assure us that it can be ours, and we’ll go all out to attain it.
“Jesus understood this. That’s why we find Him, in so many situations, casting a glorious and compelling vision of the Kingdom of God for His hearers. He commanded us to seek the Kingdom, and He enticed us in that pursuit by powerful images suggesting the beauty, majesty, greatness, and infinite value of the Kingdom of God
“In Matthew 13 the Lord piled parable after parable, image upon image, and metaphor on metaphor to convince His disciples and followers that seeking the Kingdom, while a struggle, is well worth the effort required.
“Jesus began this litany of vision-casting parables by saying that the Kingdom of God has the potential to multiply the fruit of righteousness in those who receive it (vv. 18-23). Like a small and seemingly insignificant seed, the Kingdom of God can grow and flourish and become a haven of rest and spiritual nourishment for us and many others (vv. 31, 32).
“He continued by saying that the Kingdom’s mysterious power can transform that which is unpalatable into something wholesome, delicious, and good (v. 31).
“He explained that, like a treasure hidden in a field, the Kingdom of God is more valuable than everything we could ever own (v. 44).
“Like a fisherman’s net it gathers up people from every walk of life for the purposes of the King (vv. 47, 48).
“He concluded by saying those who embrace and seek this Kingdom gain a mastery over the Word of God that enables them to minister from every section of the Scriptures (v. 52).”
For reflection or discussion
1. When you think about the Kingdom of God, what images or “vision” come to mind?
2. What does it mean for you to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?
Jesus worked to cast a vision of the Kingdom that would help His followers desire and seek it. It seems to me that we should nurture Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom as our own, with all the glorious images and promise He holds out to us. Share today’s podcast with some friends, and encourage them to subscribe to receive Read Moore five days a week. Your free copy of The Kingdom Turn is ready in The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
The post From Small Beginnings appeared first on The Fellowship of Ailbe.