The Kingdom of God

Since the fall of man, our world has been groaning under the weight of sin and sin's effects: death, emotional, mental and physical pain, violence, hatred, injustice, poverty and the list continues. There have always been those who cry out for and act on behalf of justice and change. Yet there has only been One man, a King, who through Himself, brought justification and change to the hearts of men. 

...Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)

Jesus came to earth to make the Kingdom of God available to everyone through Himself. The Word of God says that when we believe in Jesus Christ we are made right with God through Jesus' death on the cross and given new life in Him.  We are adopted as sons and daughters into a Kingdom not of this world; a spiritual Kingdom where the Great King reigns; a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed! We are ruled by a King who loves us so much and nothing can separate us from His love.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Our Great King commissions us to be ambassadors for His Kingdom! What a great privilege! We do not have to be shaken by evil rulers; we do not have to allow culture to dictate our responses to the souls around us. We can be guided by Our Great King's example of life lived out here on earth and His perfect Word.

I cannot soak this Truth in enough!! Amazing! I have been granted entrance into a new Kingdom through the perfect work of Jesus Christ...what great joy this gives me; what great purpose beckons me! It lifts my focus toward heaven and causes me to hope in His power and His ability!

What great purpose beckons me...

As I look at Jesus' life here on earth I gain understanding of the commission He has given us.

To do for the "least" (Matthew 25)

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me..."

Isn't this the sacrifice I choose? (Isaiah 58)

To share our food with the hungry

To bring the poor and homeless into our homes,

To clothe the naked

NOT to ignore our own family

To help those in trouble

Our mission doesn't end in giving physical things to those in need...Christ Himself tended to the physical needs of many people while He was here on earth, but His greatest concern was for the hearts of men. Before He ascended into heaven He gave His commission to the disciples.

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)

As ambassadors for Our King, we carry the glorious weight of meeting people's practical needs on earth and at the same time offering them the Good News; offering them the Good News of the Great Rescuer, the King, the One who not only cares for their needs on earth, but more importantly provides The Solution for their eternal need!

Causes me to hope...

This commission brings life to my soul and gives me a hope beyond what can be found in earthly justice and change. My eyes are lifted past governments, powers in high places, cultural changes and so on...

My hope is lifted past these things to the One who is above all; the One whose ways and thoughts are higher than any other!

No matter what cultures dictate or governments regulate, I am commissioned to reach out and help those in need. I am called to carry the glorious responsibility of helping the least and presenting them with the Gospel. I can go forward in confidence knowing that I do none of this on my own strength, but in His strength and in His ability! 

He is my King and He is the one who equips me to give generously to others!

Blessings,

Amy