Embodying God's Kingdom: A Call to Action

Devotional

Day 1: God's Kingdom as a Present and Future Reality

The kingdom of God is not confined to a physical location but is the reign of God over all creation. It is both a present and future reality, inaugurated by Jesus and awaiting its full realization upon His return. This understanding calls believers to live with hope and expectation, aligning their hearts with God's kingdom vision. By praying "Your kingdom come," individuals declare their allegiance to God's reign and commit to living under His rule. This prayer challenges believers to embody the values of God's kingdom in their daily lives, steering their lives toward His will and influencing the world for His kingdom impact. [14:39]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you align your daily actions with the present reality of God's kingdom, bringing His peace and joy into your immediate environment today?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Authority

Surrendering to God's authority requires humility and trust, much like a trust fall. It involves letting go of control and trusting God's plans, even when they challenge personal comfort. True surrender is about placing control in the hands of the one who never fails. This act of surrender is a declaration of faith in God's strength and wisdom, acknowledging that His plans are higher and better than our own. By surrendering, believers demonstrate their trust in God's ability to guide and sustain them through life's challenges. [22:30]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would it look like to trust Him fully in this area today?

Day 3: Embodying Kingdom Values

As ambassadors of God's kingdom, believers are called to embody its values in every aspect of their lives. This means loving enemies, seeking God's kingdom first, and pursuing righteousness. Lives should reflect the values of God's kingdom, standing out in a world that often contradicts them. By living according to kingdom values, believers become a testament to God's transformative power, influencing others through their actions and attitudes. This commitment to kingdom values is a daily choice to prioritize God's will over personal desires. [24:16]

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you act as an ambassador of God's kingdom in your workplace or community today?

Day 4: Being Salt and Light

Jesus calls believers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, influencing it for God by bringing hope, healing, and justice. Even a small light can make a difference, guiding and comforting those around. Lives lived with purpose and faith can transform the world in powerful ways. By being salt and light, believers fulfill their role as agents of God's kingdom, making a tangible impact on the world around them. This calling is an invitation to actively participate in God's work, bringing His love and truth to those in need. [33:24]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a source of hope and light to someone in your life who is struggling or in need of encouragement today?

Day 5: Participating in God's Transformative Work

Praying for God's kingdom is a call to action, committing oneself to be an instrument of His purposes in the world. It challenges believers to go beyond prayer, actively participating in God's transformative work. Lives should point others to the hope and transformation found in God's reign. By participating in God's work, believers become co-laborers with Him, contributing to the advancement of His kingdom on earth. This participation is a response to God's invitation to join Him in His mission of redemption and restoration. [27:04]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to participate in God's transformative work in your community or church?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we explored the profound meaning behind the phrase "Your kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer. This prayer is not just a passive wish but a declaration of allegiance to God's reign and a commitment to live under His rule. It calls us to align our hearts with God's kingdom vision, steering our lives toward His will, and influencing the world for His kingdom impact. The kingdom of God is not a physical place but the reign of God over all creation, a present and future reality inaugurated by Jesus and awaiting its full realization upon His return. This prayer challenges us to live with hope and expectation, embodying the values of God's kingdom in our daily lives.

We are called to surrender to God's authority, trusting His plans even when they challenge our comfort. Like a trust fall, surrendering requires courage to let go and believe in God's strength to catch us. Living by kingdom values means reflecting God's rule in every aspect of our lives, much like ambassadors representing their home country in a foreign land. We are to be salt and light in the world, influencing it for God by bringing hope, healing, and justice. The church, as a kingdom community, serves as a foretaste of God's rule, demonstrating mercy, justice, and reconciliation.

Ultimately, praying "Your kingdom come" is a commitment to participate in God's transformative work in the world. It compels us to be agents of His kingdom, steering our hearts, lives, and world toward His purposes. Let us aim high in steering our lives toward God's kingdom, trusting that His reign will bring hope, justice, and transformation.

Key Takeaways

1. Understanding God's Kingdom: The kingdom of God is not a physical place but the reign of God over all creation. It is a present and future reality, inaugurated by Jesus and awaiting its full realization upon His return. This understanding calls us to live with hope and expectation, aligning our hearts with God's kingdom vision. [14:39]
2. Surrendering to God's Authority: Surrendering to God's authority requires humility and trust, much like a trust fall. It involves letting go of control and trusting God's plans, even when they challenge our comfort. True surrender is about placing control in the hands of the one who never fails. [22:30]
3. Living by Kingdom Values: As ambassadors of God's kingdom, we are called to embody its values in every aspect of our lives. This means loving our enemies, seeking God's kingdom first, and pursuing righteousness. Our lives should reflect the values of God's kingdom, standing out in a world that often contradicts them. [24:16]
4. Being Salt and Light: Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth and light of the world, influencing it for God by bringing hope, healing, and justice. Even a small light can make a difference, guiding and comforting those around us. Our lives, lived with purpose and faith, can transform the world in powerful ways. [33:24]
5. Participating in God's Work: Praying for God's kingdom is a call to action, committing ourselves to be instruments of His purposes in the world. It challenges us to go beyond prayer, actively participating in God's transformative work. Our lives should point others to the hope and transformation found in God's reign. [27:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - Introduction to "Your Kingdom Come"
[02:03] - Exploring the Original Language
[03:18] - Understanding God's Sovereign Rule
[04:16] - Theological Themes: Already and Not Yet
[06:13] - Eschatological Hope and Expectation
[07:53] - Praying for Hope and Resistance
[09:38] - Aiming High in Steering
[10:50] - Alignment and Anticipation
[13:03] - Being a Model Driver
[14:39] - Steering Hearts Toward God's Vision
[16:48] - Present and Future Reality of the Kingdom
[18:30] - Aligning Hearts with God's Vision
[21:10] - Surrendering to God's Authority
[23:36] - Living by Kingdom Values
[26:12] - Participating in God's Work
[30:09] - Steering Lives Toward God's Will
[31:06] - Being Ambassadors of the Kingdom
[33:24] - Salt and Light in the World
[35:12] - Church as a Kingdom Community
[38:48] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

The phrase acknowledges God's rule over all creation, but also the present reality of a world not fully submitted to his reign. That's why we have these challenges for us in Christianity. We want to and we desire for God's full rule now. But we see all of this craziness. It's in our lives. [00:05:27] (23 seconds)

The prayer is both a declaration of God's kingship and a petition for its full realization. That's why we have this tension for us as Christians. We want God's rule now, but we're in the midst of all of this craziness and sin all around us. And third is this eschatological hope. [00:05:42] (23 seconds)

When you're praying for your kingdom come, you're actually praying for an act of hope and resistance against the brokenness of the world. So as we're praying for all of these things that are happening around the world, you're actually praying for this hope and resistance. [00:08:19] (20 seconds)

The kingdom of God is light. Like that sun. It's not limited to a specific location. It's wherever God's reign is recognized. You can't box it in. But you can feel its effects. The warmth of His love. The light of His truth. And the life-giving power of His righteousness. [00:15:15] (24 seconds)

Surrendering to God's authority means letting go of control and trusting his plans. Remember that game that we would play at camp usually, trust fall? When someone basically stands with their back to the group and crosses their arms and falls backwards, relying entirely on others to catch them. [00:21:55] (20 seconds)

Surrendering to God's authority is like that trust fall. It requires the courage to let go and trust that you will not hit the ground. It requires the courage to lean back even when you can't see what's behind you and to believe that God's hands are strong enough to catch you. [00:22:50] (17 seconds)

Aligning with God's will means embodying the values of his kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to love our enemies, seek first God's kingdom, and pursue righteousness. Tony Evans, he emphasizes God's kingdom agenda is comprehensive. It requires every aspect of our lives to reflect his rule. [00:23:30] (24 seconds)

Imagine being an ambassador sent to a foreign country. Your job isn't to adopt the customs or values of that new place. Instead, you're there to represent your home country, reflecting its laws, culture, and values in everything you do. How you speak, act, and make decisions. [00:24:32] (22 seconds)

Praying your kingdom come compels us to be agents of God's kingdom. Steering the world toward his reign. Being ambassadors, being ambassadors of the kingdom. In 2 Corinthians 5 .20, Paul writes, we are therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making his appeal through us. [00:30:51] (26 seconds)

That's what it means to be the light of the world. You don't have to be the brightest or the biggest. You just need to shine where you are. Your kindness, your integrity, your love, it can bring hope, clarity, and warmth to those around you. And like salt, even a small pinch can transform the flavor of an entire dish. [00:33:36] (31 seconds)

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