Faithful on Fridays Blog

After experiencing God’s saving grace we become new, spiritual people who think and act differently. If you call yourself a believer in Jesus and haven’t changed there’s good reason to question your salvation. That’s a strong statement, I know, but let’s dig into Kingdom Culture and see what Jesus’ expectations are.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:37-38

Jesus isn’t talking about money; He’s explaining the kingdom principle of planting and harvesting. God has every right to judge and condemn us but He extended mercy and forgiveness, consequently, as image-bearers we reflect Him. Mercy is withholding from people what they deserve: our condemnation, our judgment, our unforgiveness, our anger. When we learn to walk in that culture, this new way of life, we’ll reap the same amount from God; who doesn’t need and want that? Jesus’ kingdom parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt. 18:21-35) is a frightening truth: stay out of spiritual prison by learning to forgive and show mercy to those who don’t deserve it either.

The parable of the Good Samaritan pictures for us the lengths we should go to show mercy (Luke 10:25-37) because that’s God’s Kingdom Culture. He doesn’t expect us to do anything He hasn’t already done for us. If you think you’re doing well in that area Jesus told the parable of the Wedding Feast in Luke 14:7-11 with the kicker at the end:

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Living in this invisible kingdom is truly a paradox, ridiculous but true, and always works if you work it. 

Luke records Jesus’ famous Lost Parables in chapter 15: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son. They show the consistent love of the Father when we fall and His search and rescue mission when we repent. All three show great rejoicing and celebration when we return to our Father with a humbled heart, not once but for the rest of our days. 

Remember these two truths for kingdom living:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. Luke 12:31

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. Romans 14:17-18

God’s desire for victorious living is exponentially more than anything we can imagine and He’s given us the secrets to live there.