Tag: Luke 17:21

Map to the Kingdom

It was – and is – confusing to understand the directions to a ‘place’ which is not physical, but must be reached through prayer, thought and faith, and through actions which reflect the wisdom and knowledge gained through them.

Meditation Thought: “…the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)

Perhaps Jesus meant by this remark that the kingdom of God is wherever Jesus is – wherever He has awakened a mind and a heart to who the Father is. Wherever the faith exists which is of the quality of Jesus’ faith, wherever a mind and will are seeking and set upon the Father’s will, wherever a heart reaches out in love, wherever desires are sacrificed to please another, wherever there is a forgiving attitude, patience and understanding, wherever love abounds – there is the kingdom.

The kingdom is ‘found’ as soon as it is perceived as Jesus perceived it. He used many forms to teach the Way in which it could be found: His thinking, His praying, His choice of activities and choice of companions, His parables and admonitions, His attitude – His behavior in every way was for the purpose of revealing the location of the kingdom.

It was – and is – confusing to understand the directions to a ‘place’ which is not physical, but must be reached through prayer, thought and faith, and through actions which reflect the wisdom and knowledge gained through them. We are forced to deal with our physical environment and our physical nature. We are requested to deal with our spiritual nature and spiritual truths: this is the nature of the relationship with our spiritual Father: we can choose to acknowledge the relationship and to strengthen it – which brings Him joy, and brings us joy too. Or we can ‘block out’ the spiritual part of our being, rejecting our relationship with our Father. This doesn’t change the fact that we are related – but it does rob both of us of the joy of the relationship.

It is the strengthening of our relationship with the Father that was and is Jesus’ mission, and His position is Revealer of Truth, sure guide along the Way, and the Light of the kingdom shining from within, wherever He is embraced as Savior and Lord.

In the Midst

God uses any possible means to reach you and you should use any means to reach God.

Meditation Thought: “…the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)

The kingdom is not a place; it is not something you wait for, to be brought to you: it is your perception of life. When your perception of all that enters your life is the perception that God has of these things, then the kingdom has come for you. It is easy to have the perception of God when all is going right. It becomes difficult when your own desires are thwarted rather than fulfilled.

The way the kingdom comes is by aligning your desires with God’s desires for you. This can be done only be listening to your deeply hidden voice within you – you must encourage it to emerge by prayer and meditation. God uses any possible means to reach your spirit, your mind, your emotions, your body. And you should use any means to reach God. To pray, to meditate, to seek Christian companionship and counsel, to do good works – all help you come closer to God. He will reveal Himself, not necessarily as you expect – but you will be aware that He has revealed Himself, and that knowing He is real, you base every thought, word and deed upon that knowledge. This is the kingdom come: knowing that God is in you, surrounding you, moving before you – an impossibility with man but possible for God. The kingdom is the Presence of God living in you by your desire that this be so and your proof of that desire by your righteous and loving behavior.

Look! The Kingdom of God!

The Kingdom is here, in the midst of you – inside of you.

Meditation Thought: “…behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)

Behold: Look. Notice. Observe! The Kingdom is here, in the midst of you – inside of you. The Kingdom is not outside of you and outside of others and near all of you – it is within each, and it is as a magnetic force drawing all together. As the parts of the Body of Christ are more closely brought to one another, so are they able to more capably affect healing and superb performance in one another.

Never fear to draw near to anyone – for it is the Kingdom within each which seeks to bring you to a person. Even though this may not be recognized by the other – yet – you can know the Truth and it makes you free to move everywhere without fear, and in confidence and joy and anticipation and hope and sure knowledge, in wisdom, and with love. Is this state of being not a perfect description of “The Kingdom”?

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