Read today’s texts first: Esther 1,2; Psalm 150; Luke 17
God’s Kingdom brings personal freedom, not political.
The Pharisees didn’t get the concept of a spiritual kingdom. They were only concerned with how things looked on the outside. They wore the Word of God on their foreheads and shoulders (phylacteries), but it never quite made it to their hearts. They cared deeply about rituals, rules and regulations, but lacked a real relationship with God. That’s why they couldn’t grasp change that worked from the inside out.
As Jesus talked about a new kingdom they expected Him to begin an overthrow of Roman rulership. When they asked where this new kingdom was, Jesus told them not to expect outward signs (17:20). And yet the evidence was all around them. Ten lepers had just been dramatically healed and had showed their healing to possibly these same Pharisees. Lepers were easy to spot. Their bodies were horribly disfigured and often their noses, ears, fingers and toes were completely eaten away. That’s why and how they could be ostracized and labeled “unclean.” For a leper to be healed they must have gone through a radical transformation.
How did they miss it? Jesus reminded them that His Kingdom was already right here, right now. It brought personal freedom and healing, not political. The Kingdom of God is more powerful than any temporal political uprising – it brings transformational change from the inside out. When the disciples finally figured it out they radically revolutionized their world, including the Roman Empire.
“Lord, Your Kingdom has come – it’s here, now, in me. I choose to rule with You today, living from the inside out!”
No comments:
Post a Comment