Do you know where the kingdom of God is located?

 

By Gary Andrews

gary@gadevotionals.com

 

       I read something recently that really struck home for me. I had not thought much about the kingdom of God location before because, as a Christian, I know where my eternal home is. Knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I will be with Him! 

       Suppose you are walking down a street in your community, and you encounter a friend, a relative, or someone unknown to you and ask them the question, “Where is the kingdom of God?”

       What do you think their response would be? I believe many would say it is heaven. Some would say the church or maybe Israel or some other country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                What would you say? What does the Bible tell us?

       Jesus tells us in Luke 17:20-21; “…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.” NIV

       Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. They were expecting a political kingdom, a ruler or king, big armies with earthly powers. They were looking for someone to come to the earth and reign over everything and everyone, with majesty and splendor.

       Jesus told them this was not the way that it would happen. He told them that the kingdom starts inside your heart and God rules your thoughts, desires, and choices.

       The Apostle Paul told us in Romans 14:17; “…The kingdom of God is righteous, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit…”.

       As a person who has been on this earth for many years and having contact with countless number of people, I have seen many who the Holy Spirit leads and guides them. These people don’t just talk about the fruit of the Spirit, they live it.

       I have also seen many that say they are guided by the Spirit; however, their speech, actions, and behavior do not quite exemplify the truth. We are told in the scriptures that there will be many who step forth claiming to be the messiah and try to get you to follow them. Avoid these people!

       When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit resides within you. The kingdom of God is now inside of you, and it becomes like a seed that grows when you surrender, obey, and walk as the Holy Spirit leads you. It is a present reality and a future hope of God’s reign and rule through Jesus Christ.

       Accept Christ today and be transformed in following Him instead of listening to and following the world.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for allowing a sinner like me to accept you into my heart. I pray that I will live my life for you and be the example you want me to be. Amen.

       (Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Matthew 25:31-46; Monday – Isaiah 2:2-5; Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 5:17; Wednesday – Zechariah 2:10-12; Thursday – Galatians 5:22-23; Friday – Psalm 24:7-10; Saturday – Matthew 6:24.) A668-26 

 

 

 It’s a matter of time

 

By Gary Andrews

gary@gadevotionals.com

 

            Several years before he passed away, my wife asked her dad, “Would you go back to the time of your youth if you could?”

            How many of us think about our past and say if I could do some things different, I would. I think about my past and some of the decisions I made and actions that I took, and wonder would I be a different person today had I not made the choices I made? 

            There are many today that let our past dictate how we feel today. Many of us let our past feelings influence decisions of today instead of looking at what is possible for the future. Our memories, experiences, and lessons we learned can shape our present-day activities.

            For those of us that were raised in a Christian environment and had Christian parents plus 

Christian mentors, understand that God, our heavenly Father, gives us wisdom through His Word to sustain us and carry us through our daily living.  He calls us to move forward through faith and leave behind the past. The Bible warns against thinking about the past and allowing these thoughts to hinder our spiritual growth and trust in God’s promises.

            We need to remember what Solomon, in all his wisdom, tells us in Proverbs 4:25, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”

            The Bible warns against looking back in a way that hinders our spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul reminds us, in his letter to the Philippians, to forget what lies behind us and reach forward to those things which are ahead. 

            For me, I often think about words I said to others or actions that I displayed toward them and wish I could take them back. It doesn’t matter how many times I apologize for misspoken words or actions taken, they can never be retracted. 

            When my dad and father-in-law, men who I loved and respected, were asked about going back to their youth, they replied, no. Both said life was too hard. Both taught me many things about living one day at a time and spoke to me about living in the time we have now and not worrying about what is behind us and look for what is in front of us. Both men live with the Lord now and I don’t remember either of them complaining about days past but always looked forward to what the present day may have, with hopes of a better tomorrow.

            What about you? Do you have Jesus in your heart and understand that He is in control and will guide you through anything and everything that life throws your way? We need to realize that we are only on this earth for a few days. It is only a matter of time before we will be called to our eternal home!

            Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the days you allow us to have on earth. I pray that I spend them the way you want and not have to look back at my mistakes. Amen.

            (Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Luke 9:57-62; Monday – Jeremiah 29:11-13, Tuesday – Hebrews 12:1-2; Wednesday – Isaiah 55:6-9; Thursday – 2 Timothy 1:7; Friday – Psalm 37:23-24; Saturday – Romans 8:26-28) A667-25