The Kingdom of Christ

What is the Kingdom of Christ? Is it in death? Is it in life? The answer is yes to both questions. Christ wants us to rethink our daily life--to become a "greater" person by giving, serving and loving ALL peoples. Christ also ensures us that we have a promised home in death as well. What part of this is the easiest to take hold? Which part is the most difficult? Just a thought.

My Struggle

"25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?? Matthew 6:25-28

Recently, I have allowed the world to overwhelm me. I was caught up with the stresses of life--testing, parenting, etc. I wanted nothing more than to escape the world, yet I did not seek my Jesus. Instead of seeking my Father, I sought the world...Ironic, I know, but the truth is Jesus reminds us that this is the pattern of human nature without Jesus.

Look at verses 25-28. We worry about everything, yet Jesus tells us to worry about nothing. Ponder that--We are to worry only about our relationship with God, and all else flows from that...What does that mean?

Maybe this will be the conversation we have on Thursday.

Nonconformity

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

In Romans 12:1, we are called to live as living sacrifices to our God. This is followed about our nonconformmity to this world. This reminds me of what Jesus said that we are not to be of this world (John 17). Jesus has sanctified us through his ministry and resurrection. Now, we not only have words to follow, but an example. Jesus wants us to reject the World's standards and live by His standards--to be HOLY and PURE.

Let us pray over this and begin to seek His journey through our own lives.

Living Sacrifice

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

My Bible study has called me to rethink this verse--How does my living sacrifice look to God? Is it holy and pleasing?

I want to say IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL and YES it is HOLY and PLEASING...yet, I sit here typing thinking of how ugly it is. My ego drives my life, my desires drive my mind....Hasn't Jesus called us to live IN the world, not OF the world???

Today, I will continue to pray about this. I hope you will, too.

Jesus wants the intimate relationship with you, all you have to do is be willing.