Which Kingdom…?

This past week I had a conversation with one of my sons regarding the kingdom of God. I asked him if he understood what the word “kingdom” meant. He understood that we as US citizens live within the kingdom of the United States. Because we live within the territory and rule of the US we have certain rights, privileges, blessings and responsibilities. I explained that the same is true in the kingdom of God. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and God places His Spirit within us, we are now in God’s family and in His kingdom. We are under His rule and authority with certain rights, privileges, blessings and responsibilities.

Then I asked the question, “We see the kingdom of the United States all around us, we know we are living within our nation’s borders, and experience the rights, blessings and responsibilities every day. However, where is the kingdom of God? Where did Jesus say we would find it?” He had to stop and think about these questions… Therefore, I decided to rescue him by quoting the words of Jesus in Luke 17:20b-21, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Then I asked, “What did Jesus mean? How can a kingdom be within you?” Once again God’s word answers this question in Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The kingdom of God is within you because the God of that kingdom is within you!

After our conversation, I felt the Holy Spirit nudge my heart with a question, “Which kingdom are you trusting in?” We live in both kingdoms, don’t we…the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of our God? Many times God will provide for us and meet our needs through the natural, our family, the community or the systems of our nation. However, there are many times that God intends to meet our need or meet another’s need through us, through the Holy Spirit within us. Whether God uses the natural or the spiritual, He wants us to look to Him first and depend upon Him and His kingdom first.
As I stood before the Lord, I began to survey the needs, projects, people, and goals in my life and ask, “Which kingdom do I trust in to meet this need, accomplish this project, transform this person, and reach this goal?” Needless-to-say, I had to make some adjustments… I challenge you with what I challenged myself with – to bring every need, project, person, and goal in your life before the Lord first as you ask for His power and grace to meet, lead, and transform these endeavors through the Spirit and kingdom of God. Then once the priority is set on the kingdom of God, ask Him to show you how He wants to partner with your gifts and worldly opportunities in each need, project, person, and goal. Both kingdoms are important and have a role. However, only the Holy Spirit knows the balance in any given situation. Are you living in the miraculous balance - trusting in Him and His kingdom first?

In His Kingdom,

Pastor Kelley