As we approach the end of time God wants us to order our lives with Kingdom living consciousness. We cannot afford to live our lives as usual and at the same time expect to make it over to the other side. To adopt Kingdom living as our way of life requires that we be different but not queer. However, Kingdom living may appear to be paradoxical, in that, we will live with the consciousness that God wants us to enjoy life on this side yet at the same time He wants us to be conscious that we are not to order our lives after the rudiments of this life. Kingdom living is not to be schizophrenics; in that, there is inconsistency between our beliefs and behaviour. It is rather living our lives with Heaven in sight as our ultimate destination. In fact, those of us who live our lives Kingdom living style will ‘occupy till He comes’ for we will live with the ever present thought that all that we will take care of while we ‘occupy’ are not in any way comparable with that which He has gone to prepare for us to live in. that is such a marvellous thought just to know that even on this side of live we could live with the Kingdom in mind for it is not just a figment of the imagination but a hope that is real and tangible that will someday soon be materialized. Jesus taught His disciples Kingdom living when He expounded the words to them in Matthew 5:3-12. This is how He puts it “3“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God 9God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way”. Notice here that in extolling the virtues of Kingdom living that Jesus is informing us that our blessings and capacity to be blessed is not based on the euphoric but rather the seemingly negative experiences in life. How could God expect us to acknowledge that we are blessed and happy when there is little to shout about? You see my dear friends; it is in the time of drought that we are best positioned to realise and acknowledge the benefits of water. When it is flowing with full pressure there is a potential for wastage or to be taken for granted since we now that it is available. However, when that pressure is low and the demands are great it is then we will appreciate calling on Him as the giver of that which we are powerless to provide for ourselves. Kingdom living then is an acknowledgement our need and dependence on God to take care of all aspects of our lives even when we are challenged to do otherwise. Friends; you and I could rejoice in our blessings today for we know that when God does a pronouncement that no other individual has the capacity to pronounce a curse on us afterward. After all Baalam understood this well for when he tried to curse the children of God only blessings came forth and this story is recorded in Numbers 23. And so God wants to remind us that as we live with the Kingdom in mind that curses will be thrown in our direction but we need not fear nor try to respond in kind for our reward is already gift-wrapped and awaiting our presentation. No matter how we feel let us rejoice in the assurance that the Kingdom is ours. No matter what others may place as stumbling blocks in our paths let us live with the consciousness that God will destroy the works of the enemy in his time so we will learn to wait for Him to do what is best for us in his timing. Friends; we have no idea what our future holds but of this one thing we could be more than confident our God is able to make the crooked ways straight and give us reasons to rejoice in situations when to the natural mind is comfortable to complaint. Thank God for Kingdom living.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 08:56:23 +0000
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