I think that the Sermon on the Mount gives us a unique look at the kingdom through the heart of Jesus. In The Sermon Jesus presents a magnificent delineation of what the kingdom looks like and how it is contrasted to the worldly kingdom.
To seek the kingdom is not so much about finding something "out there" ... although that aspect certainly has its place in our salvation experience ... but to seek the kingdom is in a very real sense to connect with the Spirit within us.
My life began to change when I stopped seeking to bring God into my life but rather tried to let Him out of my life. The kingdom, in a sense, is all about that spiritual anointing that each of us has deep inside of us - 1John says it this way:
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:20-21)This verse says that we already have what we need and don't need to go out and get it. In a sense the kingdom is all about what we have ... what He has given us ... and not what we don't have. In the gospel of John, Jesus puts it this way:
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"(John 7:38)He says that it is not about water flowing into us but it is all about living water flowing from the deepest part of us. To first seek the kingdom we must learn how to connect with Christ in Us. Listen to what the Apostle Paul writes:
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:25-27)Paul says that this inner life of Christ in us is a glorious mystery that has been revealed to us His saints. The kingdom is also presented to us as a mystery. Seeking this mysterious kingdom is all about connecting with and seeking to live from that deep part of us. This is the heart of seeking first His kingdom and also seeking His will.
Hi KB,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment turned post reply :) The kingdom of God is truly a huge thing. With mention of it being within us, and equating it to some analogies, with it being a mystery as well is astounding. It makes me think how can a kingdom of God be within me? It is like having the kingdom of of the Agong (i.e. the king in Malaysia) be within me, how can that happen and what does that mean?
Yes, it is the Spirit, it is Christ.
What I was also trying to get at is that the missiological part of it is something I missed. I usually think of the kingdom of God as His reign of my life, that I am subject to Him and I love Him as my King but I do not think about it as an enlarging kingdom and it IS our duty to enlarge the kingdom of God as seen highlighted through the analogies and parables.
Just wanted to say thank you for your post. I think God led me to reading it today, and it helped me with something I was struggling with. I'll be back to read more. God bless!
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