A great deal of time and effort is expended by Christians every day who ignore the challenge of Christ to recognize the kingdom of God at work within them. It is much easier to seek and experience outward expressions of faith where busyness equates to growing spirituality. "God's kingdom," Jesus said, "is within you." He spoke of the heart and of the transformation that comes when one is truly made new. That's why Paul said that "if anyone in in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things are new." The kingdom of God is not defined by the activities of a local church body or other religious institution. Yes, it is important to gather with others to worship the living God and serve others in the name of Christ. But that begins not because a church ordains it, but because Christ comes to live within the human heart.
In our text today, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to identify the origins of God's kingdom, but Jesus would not play their game. He turned their words and their world upside down by placing God's hand at work within the human heart. Personal relationship is where faith in Christ begins, and though we share that faith with brothers and sisters through Kingdom work in the church, that work is not the Kingdom. Look within your heart and remember that you have been changed by the sacrifice of Christ, made new...reborn to Kingdom living, right where you are.
Where is the Kingdom of God? It is within you!
Jim Abernathy
No comments:
Post a Comment