Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Luke 17:20-21 “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'”
Reflection
If you think you’re going to escape from this earth, you will live your life thinking that tomorrow you won’t be here.
If you believe the Kingdom is here and now and you have to advance the kingdom on earth, then you will live differently.
If you believe the Kingdom of God has arrived, you will enter the Kingdom of God.
What do you think and how does it affect your behavior in this dimension?
This is the crucial question. Your theology determines your practical life. If you believe your destiny is to escape, you won’t invest in conquering territories, in manifesting the Kingdom, in transforming the earth. You’ll live as a temporary visitor waiting for the emergency exit.
But if you understand that the Kingdom of God is already here, that Jesus declared “the kingdom of heaven has come near,” that the Kingdom is among us now, then you’ll live as a conqueror, as a child of God establishing heavenly government on earth, as a temple of the Holy Spirit manifesting the glory that is already here.
Meditation for Today
Do I live waiting to escape or waiting to conquer? Does my theology make me passive or active in advancing the Kingdom? Do I believe the Kingdom of God has arrived or that it will come?
Prayer
Father, the Kingdom of God has arrived, it is here now.
I don’t live waiting to escape but advancing Your Kingdom on earth.
May my behavior reflect that I believe in the present Kingdom, not in a future escape.
I live as a conqueror establishing Your heavenly government on earth.
Amen.
Blessings beloved
Ana Mendez Ferrell