SCRIPTURE: Luke 17:20-25
The kingdom of God is in your midst.
It is not something that comes to us, but comes through us.
We do not sit by passively and wait for God’s kingdom to come.
It is in our hearts, our hands, our lives – as we live by God’s power, as God’s servants.
Jesus has left us on earth to bring about God’s kingdom in our midst, where we are.
He has commissioned us, and will not return until our work is done.
He will not come to build God’s kingdom, but to announce it’s completion.
He is building God’s kingdom through us, among us, in our midst, where we live.
The Pharisees were waiting for God to do something.
God is waiting for them (and us) to do something.
The Pharisees were waiting for God to appear and fix everything (there He is, here He is).
God is waiting for us to show up and begin fixing things – so that He can help us.
“You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (2 Peter 3:11)
Stop just waiting for Jesus’ return; speed it’s coming by working towards it wherever you are.
“Why do you stand here looking into the sky?” (Acts 1:11)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, for Your kingdom to come, I need to speed it’s coming by living it. Help me to stop looking up into the clouds, help me to get started with my job.
Observation/Application
He’s here.
God reigns through His people who are working in His vineyard.
His Kingdom builders.
We/I need to use the talents given in being active in the building of the kingdom.
It is here and now
but
not in full.
But Christ will return when all is in place
at the right time He will return.
But in the meantime
Whatever your/my hand finds to do
do it with all your might
pleasing the Lord.
He will return
and in the meantime
I will continue to be a kingdom worker
using the gifts given
to empower me.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.