Signs of the Kingdom

Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was already here but not yet present. The Kingdom is a reality that is breaking through but has not yet come. Each day we should be alert to signs of the Kingdom of God breaking into our ordinary existence. Such signs give us hope, encouragement, and direction.

I was reminded of this recently when I read this text from Matthew 19:14:

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (NIV)

With grandchildren in our home on a regular basis, I have had the opportunity to think about this verse in a real-life context. We love our children and grandchildren, but we also recognize that their conduct is not always exemplary. They argue, they are selfish, they fail to get along with their siblings, but they do show genuine expressions of love and concern when we least expect it.

In this verse, I believe the intention is not that we should attempt to replicate the typical behavior of children in order to be closer to the Kingdom. There is something else here. In context, Jesus’ statement is preceded by this verse:

“Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.”

What was the purpose of those who brought the children for Jesus’ blessing? The place of children (especially female children) was not significant in the New Testament world, but perhaps in bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus, these parents and friends were expressing a desire for something more for these youngsters. Perhaps they saw in Jesus a new way of valuing people and wanted to have that passed on to a new generation.

I suggest that one sign of the Kingdom may be the hope that things will be better for those who follow us. We hope that the Kingdom will become more real in their lives than it has been in ours until that generation in which the Kingdom of God is complete. Therefore, we invest in nurturing Kingdom vision in those under our influence.

Another teaching here for us comes from the reaction of the disciples. Did they think that blessing children was not worth their Master’s time? Were they so concerned about their own position in the peaking order of the Kingdom that they were jealous of the time that others might spend with Jesus? A sign of the Kingdom may be our willingness to share citizenship with others.

Finally, unlike many who followed Jesus, the children came expecting nothing except time in the presence of Jesus. This may be challenge to us: by spending more time with Jesus we will be better equipped to perceive the Kingdom at work. Our perception of the Kingdom grows as we practice the presence of God in our lives. If our spiritual senses are not properly tuned, our reception will be inadequate. We won’t see the signs if we are not prepared to see them.

We may be citizens of the Kingdom, but we are still discovering its geography.

Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist. I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age. I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving. This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students. We supported missionaries at home and abroad. We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course). I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition. Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect. There were significant...

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself. The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church. Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs. What once worked no longer seems to be effective. Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educa...

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor. He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.” In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.” Jesus turned this around. In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner. His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced. He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality. These are metapho...

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church. On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter. Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year. He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability ...

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business. For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates. He has already left the church and resigned from the board of t...

Barnabas File

Search This Blog