What is the path that leads to entering the Kingdom of God?
Our best efforts sometimes reveal that it is all about working harder, smarter, wiser.
But no, that's not it; it's about repentance, changing the way we relate in life.
What does it look life in my life to seek His Kingdom?
"You are blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and His Rule." Matthew 5:3 ~ The Message. These people had heard from the ancients about the law. Here comes a Man Who wants to change their life from the inside out---God must increase and we must decrease. "Change your mind about everything." (Larry Crabb). "My Son's mission was to change your life, to bring you into my Kingdom of love by forgiving your self-worshiping rebellion that keeps you falling short of My way of relating and by empowering you to bring My Kingdom near to others by the radially changed way you can now relate." 66LL.
The law just exposes who we really are. Jesus came to change our hearts. The ways we do not relate like we should. He came to empower us to enter the Kingdom that He just introduced in the Sermon on the Mount. A Kingdom where there is more of God and less of us. "Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 50:2 - Perfect in Beauty is the God Who pours out of each one of you. Father, Help us all to fulfill our mission on earth to enter and embrace building Your Kingdom, not our own.
As is often the case, Bev, you got me started on a rewarding rabbit trail. I looked up The Message for today's readings and was taken by its simply-stated wisdom. http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/beginning/today?version=MSG
ReplyDeleteThese are familiar verses to many of us. Let them fall fresh again on our hearts and have their way deep within us.
Especially,
On letting our light shine: Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
On the murderous effect of our words: The simple moral fact is that words kill.
About careless words: And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it
On forgiveness: No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Using God as our example for living: In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
And this treasure of advice in how to pray: Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Pearls, may we all breathe in the great expanse of Grace in which we live as believers this side of the Cross today and every day, as He intended for us.