WILLOW Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 1 Thy Kingdom Come? by Michael Novelli We say the words, but do we really understand them? What God reveals to us — and about us — through His Kingdom THE KINGDOM REVEALED TO US Jesus was always talking about God’s Kingdom ... His entire life was focused on pointing people to God and His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is mentioned more than 50 times alone in the gospel of Matthew ... but where is this Kingdom? Is it in heaven? Is it in the past, present or future? From then on, Jesus began to teach, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of God has come.”– Matthew 4:17 (NLT) God’s Kingdom is not something we can easily explain or grasp. According to Jesus, the mystery of the Kingdom was something for us to ponder, requiring us to search the intentions of our heart in order to begin to understand it. Jesus told them, “... to those who can’t see God’s Kingdom yet, everything comes in stories,creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.”– Mark 4:10-12 (The Message) God’s Kingdom is like a riddle that requires further pursuit. It turns our thinking upside down ... the peasants are given power, the first become last, foolishness becomes profound, the poor are the rich ones, children are the mature, and the weak become strong. It is like a hidden treasure that we need the help of the divine to uncover and unlock. It seems that God has been giving us pictures of what Kingdom living is all about from the beginning. The Kingdom is God’s way of life — reflected in the past, first in the Garden of Eden, then in part through the ancient people of Israel, and perfectly through the life of Jesus. The Kingdom continues in the present, revealed through us who allow God to rule in our lives. This Kingdom is also a kingdom of the future — coming in its fullness later, when Jesus comes back to restore all things back to the way they were intended to be. His reign will be expressed in perfection, every detail will reflect his Lordship, and every tear will be wiped away. He has showed you what is good. And what does the lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8 (NLT) Take a moment and pray ... (from Matthew 6:9-13) Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come now. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. THE KINGDOM REVEALED THROUGH US Jesus said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the lord’s favor has come.”– Luke 4:14 (NLT) When we read in the gospels about Jesus’ mission and message we discover a hard-to-explain mystery ... those whom society considers worthless or unlovable, God sees as the greatest and the closest to Him and His Kingdom! Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?– James 2:5 (NLT) I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.– Matthew 25:40 (NIV) When we look at the face of a person who is homeless, poor or forgotten, what do we see? Do we feel pity or disgust, wishing their lives were different? What if the next time we looked into their eyes, we envisioned the face of Jesus? How would we treat them differently? This is part of the beautiful mystery of the Kingdom ... the least are the ones who may reveal God the most! When we encounter those who society may consider“the least” — the poor, sick, elderly, and the helpless, we are to treat them as we would treat Jesus — as someone who has much to reveal to us about God! “I believe that the great tragedy of the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor, but that they do not know the poor. Yet if we are called to live the new community for which Christ was crucified, we cannot remain strangers to one another. Jesus demands that we live in a very different way.” Shane Claiborne, from his book An Irresistible Revolution What would it take for you to really get to know someone in your neighborhood or city who is forgotten or poor? What can we learn from someone who is poor? How might they reveal God’s Kingdom to you? It’s an interesting paradox ... often when we go to serve and reach out to people — to bring God’s Kingdom — it is them who bring healing and reveal God’s Kingdom to us. And I think this is the way God intended it ... He seems to be revealed most in the lives of those who are broken and in touch with their need for Him. Author Henri Nouwen describes our role as being that of “wounded healers,” given the great privilege of seeing and revealing God’s Kingdom with others. “The radical revolutionary empire of God is here, advancing by reconciliation and peace, expanding by faith, hope and love — beginning with the poorest, the weakest, the meekest, and the least. It’s time to change your thinking. Everything is about change. It’s time for a new way of life. Believe me. Follow me. Believe the Good News so you can learn to live by it and be a part of the revolution.” Brian McLaren, from his book The Secret Message of Jesus This “radical revolution” calls us to humbly follow the ways of Jesus and help bring God’s restorative Kingdom to a hurting and fallen world. What is God stirring in your heart right now? What dreams is God giving you to bring His Kingdom to those who are hurting and in need? What might need to change in your life and schedule to help make this happen? May God’s reign be revealed to us and through us. Amen. Top