Luke 17:20-21
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
Reflection:
What does the kingdom of God look like?
Revelation describes a place where “mourning, and crying, and pain will be no more.” (NRSV) Seems like a good place to start: the kingdom of God is a place of joy, peace, and love – no more tears, fear, or pain.
So we wait, and yearn, and thirst for this kingdom to come. We wait for “one day” – whether upon our passing and ascent to Heaven or upon Jesus’ return.
But what if “one day” is tomorrow? Or today? What if it’s right now as you read this devotional?
“For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” That phrase could also be translated: “the kingdom of God is within you.” As you read these words, can you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you: “Yes! I am here! I’m not coming someday, I’m here right now!”
Oh, but there are times in my life when I would have said otherwise.
Last Thanksgiving, I woke up in a funk. It could also have been described as “the wrong side of the bed.” In no uncertain terms, I was grumpy. I felt unloved and sad and angry, and nothing could change it. I went to the family meals, I put on a happy face, I tried to be grateful for something, anything, but couldn’t muster an ounce of gratitude. And at the end of the day, I threw myself on my bed and just cried (so much for no more tears in the kingdom of God).
The joy-filled, peaceful, loving kingdom of God could not have felt farther away… It is easy to forget that the Kingdom of God is among us, isn’t it?
When you drive somewhere for the first time, you may get lost or think “this is just too far.” You might think, “Is this right? Does this look right?” But the more often you make that drive, the easier it becomes, the more familiar the landscape, and, in my experience, the quicker it feels. I found that locating the Kingdom of God around me is a similar process. The more you look for it, the easier it is to find it.
Dr. Pace told a story in a recent sermon of a woman reminiscing about the days when she and her husband would sit close together and hold each other when in the car, and the husband’s response was “I wasn’t the one who moved.”
God is ready and waiting for you to come home to the kingdom and bask in its beauty every single day of your life.
Starting now.
Closing Prayer:
To my most beloved Father. Thank you for bringing heaven to earth for your children. Thank you for the daily provision of the Spirit. Thank you for being a safe place to turn and a reprieve from the pain and sorrow that threaten to plague us. May I seek you daily, hourly, and live from the abundance you have to offer. May I live always in the kingdom of God. Through your son, Jesus. Amen.
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