JESUS FACTOR: The Kingdom Upon, Within, and Amidst


 


“The kingdom is” (upon you, within you, in the midst of you), a constant concept spread throughout the gospel, is a statement many out of disappointment, anger and resentment come to critique and/or mock (especially among the sick, suffering and persecuted), saying “How many centuries have we heard that!”  Thus, many lose faith or worse, conclude “If God ain’t saving me, might as well live for self” and become victims, victimizers, or bystanders. Yet Jesus countered the issue saying, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation” (Luke17:20–21). Does that not somehow imply “The Kingdom” is not a destination to anticipate but a journey full of actions, choices and discoveries to experience and explore beyond the limits of self-gratifying means and ends? Justice is not an issue reserved for the kingdom to come. Justice is a matter to be addressed here on earth because it’s everyone’s sovereign right to coexist. And it’s everyone’s responsibility to strive toward such ends by what possible means deemed necessary.

But then Why does Jesus say, "The poor you will always have with you" (Mt 26:11)? Does that not somehow imply a persistent nature of poverty in society? Why then highlight the need for ongoing social responsibility and place spiritual wealth more important than material wealth? Visit https://biblehub.com/q/Why_does_Jesus_say_the_poor_always.htm for a good starting response and consider how the presence of the poor serves as a reminder of our duty to mature toward the importance of having caring compassion for others.

When prone to judge or covet, when led to lust and hoard, when given to fear, doubt, anger and resentment, when all that natural stuff of the flesh occasionally comes to surface stop and consider 1Pet 4:8+: “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers and above all things have fervent love for one another.” It concludes “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” so that “as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” He “may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” But how?

REMEMBER! GREATER LIVING IN YOU than what’s being promoted around the world. REMEMBER! There’s a promised comforting counselor ready and able to conquer LIVING IN YOU.  And ponder, “By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1john 2:6). But again! How?

Could that be why one should consider Jesus, THE MAN; who came to show THE WAY of Truth for LIFE; who every night had to disappear into the night alone (and yet not alone) to unwind, cleanse, take inventory, lick his wounds while meditating to pour out his heart to  discuss,  intercede and who knows what else. Like many trying to follow the narrow road, can you imagine the pain and suffering, the frustration, fear and doubt? Like many, can you imagine having to face and overcome feelings like “What’s the point! Better to run and hide or just take life in stride than face daily; the thorny crown of too much thought – the whip for meddling where warned one should not – the cross till one’s last bell rung hoping to just pass the baton.” Yet Jesus persevered and said you can to. He said fear not! They hated me first and I’ve overcome the world!

And just like this country needs to remember the initial intent of its founding fathers, the pulpit needs to remember and remind the body of believers the original intent of Jesus that was never about creating denominational dividing dogmas, but one church called to love thy neighbor and change the world one heart at a time. Because how can you love that which you can’t see and not that which you can see? How can you say you love the creator and not what’s created? Face it! The kingdom is Upon us,  Within us, and running Amidst our daily experiences!

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