My 3-year-old
granddaughter loves to pretend that she is a princess, complete with tiara and
twirly dress. Her imaginary kingdom is filled with magic, pretty dresses
and brave kings and queens.
While God's kingdom isn't
a physical place, it is more than just wishful thinking. It is the real,
eternal rule of God the Creator, sovereign of all the universe.
So when Christians talk
about bringing people 'into the kingdom' we are talking about adding to the
church and growing the kingdom of God.
In today's passage,
Matthew reminds us that the prophet Isaiah predicted that God's kingdom would
come, hundreds of years before Christ’s birth.
Jesus picks up that
prophecy and declares His place as the God who rules that kingdom with these
stirring words in verse 17: "Repent! (Change your life). God's kingdom is
here. (And I am the One who brings it to
life!)
St. Augustine adds that
either you worship the true God and serve His kingdom or you worship at a false
altar and serve the Kingdom of Man.
Won't you come joyfully into
His kingdom? Serve him with gladness, know that the Lord is God.
Thank you, Lord, that
you have opened the door to your kingdom through your death and
resurrection. You have called me
personally and You cared enough for me that you would have died if I was the
only one who needed saving. Your mercy is everlasting. Your kingdom endures to all generations.
Amen and Amen!
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