THOUGHT: I’ve been amazed at the rise in patriotism since September 11, 2001. You can see it everywhere from flags and banners on cars to billboards and television commercials. It’s as if no one is ashamed to proclaim his or her allegiance—liberal and conservative, rich or poor, black or white, north or south, east or west—it doesn’t seem to matter. The message: Lets let the world know how we feel! Let’s let the world know who we are! We are all Americans! We are united!
Why do I find it so difficult to proclaim my true citizenship the way I proudly wear my flag pin around all day? Why am I often so embarrassed, so apologetic, so ashamed to admit that I am part of God’s Kingdom? Most of all, why am I afraid to live my life like a citizen of the true kingdom? Maybe because I don’t realize that I truly belong to God’s kingdom here and now and that I can live like it here and now. And most of all, He makes it possible for me to do it! I don’t need to wait for the future. I don’t need to wait for heaven.
When Jesus broke into this world He came proclaiming an amazing message: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HERE AND NOW! You are looking at Him (Mk. 1:14-15).
Wow!
Think about it. God’s kingdom is not a future reality but a present reality inaugurated with the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. John said it like this: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. (Jn. 1:12, 13).
You are a citizen. Live like it. Just don’t believe it. For me that means I am not afraid to live my whole life as a song of praise. I am not embarrassed to live a life of worship.
Encounter Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to live me life today, and everyday, like one who really believes that I belong to your Kingdom here and now. Help me not to be afraid or to be ashamed to live a life of praise and worship.
Encounter:
- What are some ways you could do things differently today to symbolize the reality of God’s Kingdom here and now?
- What do you think David meant “to sing praises with a psalm”?
- What do you think it means to live a life of praise and worship?
No comments:
Post a Comment