The kingdom brings a relationship that the law of Moses could not. Children born by the suffering of the Son at the cross and born by the authority of the Son as King (Matt 6:5-9; Heb 2:5-13; Isa 8:11-18).

The relationship between a good shepherd and his sheep is comparable to the relationship between a good king and the people of his kingdom. Good shepherds and kings provide, protect, and lead their sheep or people.

Sometimes in Scripture the kingdom names the realm or the territory of a king one/some might enter or from which one/some may be cast out (Matt 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 23:13).

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. . . . The ever increasing glory of our transformation into the likeness of His Son comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The work of God in His Son is nothing less than glorious!

2 Cor 3:17-18

When anyone gives you a gift of love, the best thing you can do is willingly and humbly receive it. God has given the greatest of gifts! It would please Him, if we would just be willing to receive His gifts! (Matt 5:14-16; Col 1:10-14)

Humility can seem as problematic as picking up mercury. If we will choose to hear the gospel message and believe it, humility will be a natural response to God's power and grace. Humility is required to find the blessing of the kingdom.

The Holy Spirit of God is a person of God. If we seek the purpose of God in His Son for our lives, then why would dismiss the purpose of God for His Spirit in our lives? We must not be ignorant of His Spirit within us!

Catching what God has done for us in Christ will help

us understand the nature of the kingdom and the joy we can have from it (Mt 5; Ps 126).

We can trust the mercy of God toward us in His Son, like all God's redemptive activity; it is based on His Sovereign power and authority.