Faithful on Fridays Blog

Is Kingdom Living for You?

Have you ever had someone give you advice that sounded right but their life demonstrated they didn’t practice what they preach? Dieting or exercise tips from someone vastly overweight? How about advice on raising children from someone who doesn’t have kids or their’s are out of control? What about suggestions on living God’s victorious life, however, their life is a train wreck?

Will anyone listen to you talk about following Christ and the new life He offers if you’re still living according to the world’s ways and acting like the devil? That sounds like my mother talking but it’s true.

Now… that assumes that you have come face-to-face with God, acknowledged your sin, and received His forgiveness. There’s no other way. Jesus said that you must be spiritually reborn to enter the kingdom of God (John 3) so we know that there’s a time of entry. But what about this concept of living in the kingdom of God? What’s it’s purpose? Why did Jesus call it a kingdom anyway?

These are some common and yet valid questions to explore. For now let’s say that the kingdom of God is a lifestyle. It’s walking with Him every day, knowing in your mind, and believing in your heart that you are a child of the King. Since God is a spirit, reigning from a spiritual realm, then our life is lived, reigning, so to speak, in a spiritual kingdom we cannot see. It’s an invisible kingdom but a royal lifestyle, nonetheless. This is a mystery for sure but Jesus said that His children were permitted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13). What a privilege; we can understand God’s secrets.

Remember, we began in a kingdom when God created the world. Even though the word ‘kingdom’ is not used, the concept is there. Ruling, reigning, and taking dominion was God’s command in Gen. 1. He created a world and gave us fellowship with Him and with each other. It was a great plan and destiny but a temporary detour was on the horizon. The name of that detour is sin but as humanity continued through time, that great plan and destiny was still on God’s mind. He didn’t switch to Plan B, He didn’t give up on us, He did not scratch the plan; He had already chosen us to be reunited with Him through His Son (Eph. 1:3-8). Even before sin entered the world God was prepared with a rescue operation. That’s great news, kingdom living is available for you! What places in your life are you not experiencing kingdom living?

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 ESV

Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in. Luke 16:16 NLT