Living as Citizens of God's Kingdom: A Radical Call

Devotional

Day 1: Living as Kingdom Citizens

In Matthew 5, Jesus introduces the concept of living as citizens of His kingdom, a reality that is both present and future. This dual reality calls believers to embody kingdom values that contrast sharply with worldly norms. The Beatitudes describe the blessedness of those who live out these values, such as humility, mercy, and peacemaking. Jesus challenges His followers to act as salt and light in the world, influencing their surroundings with the transformative power of the kingdom. This call is not just about external actions but about a heart posture that reflects the kingdom's presence within us. As we live out these values, we become a testament to the kingdom's reality, even as we await its full realization. [01:28]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you act as salt and light in your community this week, demonstrating the values of the kingdom?

Day 2: The Higher Standard of Fulfilled Law

Jesus emphasizes that He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, providing its true interpretation and application. The law served as a guide until the coming of grace, and now believers are called to live by a higher standard. This standard is not about legalistic adherence but about heart transformation. Jesus clarifies the deeper issues behind actions like anger and lust, urging His followers to address the root causes rather than just the symptoms. By fulfilling the law, Jesus invites believers into a life of grace that transforms the heart, leading to genuine righteousness that surpasses mere rule-following. [04:15]

Romans 13:10 (ESV): "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you tend to focus on external compliance rather than heart transformation. How can you invite Jesus to transform your heart in this area?

Day 3: Loving Beyond Human Limitations

The call to love one's enemies is one of the most challenging aspects of Jesus' teaching. It requires a love that transcends human limitations, mirroring God's own love for humanity. This love is not about trying harder in our own strength but about relying on the Holy Spirit to empower us. Jesus' command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us reflects God's limitless love, demonstrated through Christ's sacrificial death for us while we were still His enemies. This radical love challenges us to move beyond cultural and personal boundaries, embodying the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [12:19]

Luke 6:35 (ESV): "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."

Reflection: Think of someone you consider an enemy or someone who has wronged you. How can you begin to show them love and kindness this week, relying on the Holy Spirit for strength?

Day 4: Reflecting God's Love in Our Actions

Our actions towards others, especially our enemies, reflect our relationship with God and our understanding of His love. Jesus challenges us to love beyond cultural and personal boundaries, demonstrating the transformative power of His love in our lives. This love is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that reflect God's character. As we strive to live as kingdom citizens, our actions become a testament to the reality of God's love, inviting others to experience His grace and mercy. This reflection of God's love is a powerful witness to the world, showing that His kingdom is indeed present among us. [31:44]

1 John 4:12 (ESV): "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: Consider a recent interaction where you struggled to show love. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future to better reflect God's love?

Day 5: Embracing Radical Discipleship

The Sermon on the Mount is a call to radical discipleship, urging believers to live out the kingdom's values in a world that often opposes them. It challenges us to examine our hearts, recognize our limitations, and rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. This radical discipleship is not about perfection but about a continual journey of growth and transformation. As we embrace this call, we become more aligned with the values of the kingdom, living as true disciples of Christ. This journey requires courage and commitment, but it is also marked by the joy and fulfillment that come from living in alignment with God's purposes. [37:08]

Colossians 3:10 (ESV): "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to deeper discipleship? What steps can you take this week to respond to that call?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus presents a radical vision of what it means to be a citizen of His kingdom. The Beatitudes, which open the Sermon on the Mount, set the stage by describing the blessedness of those who embody kingdom values—values that starkly contrast with worldly norms. Jesus calls His followers to live as if the kingdom is already present within them, even though it is not yet fully realized on earth. This dual reality challenges believers to embody the kingdom's principles in their daily lives, acting as salt and light in the world.

Jesus emphasizes that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. As the giver and fulfiller of the law, He provides the true interpretation and application of its commands. The law served as a guide until the coming of grace, and now, through Christ, believers are called to live by a higher standard. This standard is not about legalistic adherence but about heart transformation, as Jesus clarifies the deeper issues behind actions like anger, lust, and retaliation.

The call to love one's enemies is perhaps the most challenging aspect of Jesus' teaching. It requires a love that transcends human limitations, a love that mirrors God's own love for humanity. This love is not about trying harder in our own strength but about relying on the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live out these kingdom values. Jesus' command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us is a reflection of God's limitless love, which was demonstrated through Christ's sacrificial death for us while we were still His enemies.

The Sermon on the Mount is a call to radical discipleship, urging believers to live out the kingdom's values in a world that often opposes them. It challenges us to examine our hearts, to recognize our own limitations, and to rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. As we strive to live as kingdom citizens, we are reminded that our actions towards others, especially our enemies, reflect our relationship with God and our understanding of His love.

Key Takeaways

1. Kingdom Citizenship: Jesus calls us to live as citizens of His kingdom, embodying values that contrast with the world. This involves recognizing that the kingdom is already present in our hearts, even as we await its full realization. Our lives should reflect the kingdom's principles, acting as salt and light in the world. [01:28]
2. Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus fulfills the law, providing its true interpretation and application. The law served as a guide until grace came, and now believers are called to live by a higher standard. This standard is not about legalistic adherence but about heart transformation, as Jesus clarifies the deeper issues behind actions like anger and lust. [04:15]
3. Love Your Enemies: The call to love one's enemies is a reflection of God's limitless love. It requires a love that transcends human limitations, mirroring God's own love for humanity. This love is not about trying harder in our own strength but about relying on the Holy Spirit to empower us. [12:19]
4. Reflecting God's Love: Our actions towards others, especially our enemies, reflect our relationship with God and our understanding of His love. Jesus challenges us to love beyond cultural and personal boundaries, demonstrating the transformative power of His love in our lives. [31:44]
5. Radical Discipleship: The Sermon on the Mount is a call to radical discipleship, urging believers to live out the kingdom's values in a world that often opposes them. It challenges us to examine our hearts, recognize our limitations, and rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. [37:08]
** [37:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - Introduction to the Beatitudes
[02:54] - Salt and Light
[04:15] - Fulfillment of the Law
[05:54] - Clarifying the Law
[07:34] - Purpose of the Law
[09:03] - Issues of the Heart
[10:42] - Role of the Holy Spirit
[12:19] - Love Your Enemies
[13:59] - Cultural Workarounds
[15:19] - Redefining Neighbors
[18:31] - The Good Samaritan
[23:54] - Agape Love
[27:06] - Retaliation and Love
[31:44] - Reflecting God's Love
[37:08] - Radical Discipleship

Sermon Clips

1) "He's telling us what it looks like to be citizens of his kingdom. He's preparing his followers to understand what God has called them to as believers in Jesus, because as we talk about Matthew, this gospel of the kingdom, we live in this balance of recognizing that the kingdom is here, but the kingdom is not here. Jesus teaches that the kingdom is in the hearts of those who believe in him, those who follow him, but he also teaches that there is a kingdom that is coming that he will establish on this earth, where he will rule and he will reign, and that kingdom is not here yet." [01:28] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And so as Jesus goes through the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, he is trying to help the people to understand. He's trying to help us to understand how we've been called to live and be as citizens of the kingdom. He talked about anger. You've heard that it was said of old, you shall not murder. Whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who's angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council. And whoever says you fool will be liable to the hell of fire." [07:34] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Now, the thing for us to keep in mind is we have no ability to live this out on our own. In the gospel of John, Jesus talking to the apostles is saying that he must go. The disciples. The disciples don't want him to go. He's saying, no, no, it is needful that I go. Because unless I go, the spirit cannot come. Because when Jesus, after his death, burial, and resurrection, 40 days later, when he ascended into heaven, he told them to go and wait. They went and they waited. And on the day of Pentecost, in Acts chapter number two, what happened? The Holy Spirit came and indwelt those in the upper room." [10:42] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "It's not about trying harder. We have a responsibility, absolutely. But it's not about trying harder under your own abilities. It's about following the Holy Spirit and being obedient to what he has called us to, even when it is contrary to our nature, our culture, and sometimes even the way we as a church operate. he just say that? Read with me, starting verse number 43. You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven." [12:19] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Love, this means to actively do what the Lord prefers with him as the one who's doing it, not you. That's what this word is. This is the word agape. In fact, verb form of agape. This is a love that prefers what God does and actively does it, recognizing it's him that's doing it, not you. So he says, you've heard it said, love your neighbor. Your neighbor means someone who is nearby. But Jesus, as he began to teach on this word, demonstrated that the word neighbor means anyone of any race, any religion that you either come in contact with or have the possibility of coming in contact with." [23:54] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "What's going to solve the problems of the world? Not different political systems, not different political parties. What's going to save this world is the person of Jesus Christ changing the hearts of men. That is the only thing that will deliver this world is the person of Jesus Christ. How do people know about the love of Jesus Christ? How do people know about what Christ has done when we say, I don't care about the past. I don't care about the cultural preferences. I don't care about any of the junk that society says. I don't even care about the garbage that the church has promoted. For decades, I'm going to love my enemy because that's what Jesus said to do." [27:06] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Our actions towards others, especially, he says here, our actions towards our enemies are a reflection of whether or not we belong to God. We miss this so often. We say, oh, we're the sons of God. We're the children of God. We're blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But if we don't live like it, if we don't live like it, it demonstrates that there's a disconnect somewhere either in our thinking or in what we really believe. Because Jesus says, you love me, you keep my commandments. Guess what? This right here is the command." [31:44] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "The final call that he gives here is a impossible call, yet it is the culmination of everything Jesus has said up to this point, which again points us back to the need for Christ and the need for the Holy Spirit, because you cannot, I cannot be perfect. It is impossible. This word perfect that's used here means to be complete in all of its part, to be fully grown. It specifically has to do with the completeness of a Christian's character. Be complete as your heavenly father is complete." [35:18] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "If we ever think someone has done something so far beyond the ability for us to forgive, we need to take a step back and look at Christ. There is nothing, there is nothing anyone on earth could ever do to you that is worse than what you have done through your sin and rebellion against God. Nothing. Now, does that mean forgiveness is easy? No. But if we are unwilling to forgive, if we are unwilling to love, we need to take a step back and recognize what he has done for us." [38:41] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "Love your enemies. Love those that hate you. Love those that you hate. Because love, love is from God. And we're called to show that to other people. Sermon on the Mount is not some easy feel-good message for us. When Jesus delivers this Sermon on the Mount, he's saying, listen, I have called you to be different from the rest of the world. I have changed you so that you will be different." [42:07] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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