Week 3 | Day 1 | Your Kingdom Come

Command:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Read:

For behold— the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21 (DLNT)

Reflect:

I used to think of the Kingdom of Heaven as being in the future. So, I thought, maybe I can put off those changes I need to make for a while. However, I learned that since the King is timeless, his kingdom exists beyond the boundaries of time and is eternally past, present, and future. Jesus said his Kingdom has come near, right now. It is always close by, all around us, all the time. 

When asked what to look for to see the Kingdom’s arrival, Jesus said “For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. Luke 17:21 (ABCE) So, while I know I will exist gloriously in heaven without the limits and pain of my biological body after it dies, I can have an eternal peace and hope for a good life right now because the Kingdom of God is always all around and within me. 

So, it makes sense that King Jesus’ urgent appeal to me is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2 (NIV) Christ’s Kingdom is near because Christ is nearby. The space around us appears empty, but it is not. It is dense and lush with the presence of Christ. And with him comes everything we need to live life in the optimal way the creator of life intended. 

So, I might want to pause and reconsider how I’m living. Because a divine way of good life flows in the space all around me and I am invited to breathe in the Light of Life and participate in the goodness, peace and joy of the King’s ways of life.

React:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2 (NLT)

Pray:

Father, open my eyes to see your near and now loving embrace that will guide me in the way everlasting.