Fifteenth Day of Lent

Fifteenth Day of Lent

Friday, March 17, 2017

I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also,
because that is why I was sent.
Luke 4:43

Early in Jesus’ ministry, he declares what his message is to be – the kingdom of God – and all through the three years that he was on earth, he goes back to that theme – the kingdom of God is like . . . .

He give a number of examples of kingdom living. It is like light that shines all around, showing the way to all who seek it. It is like farming – planting, tending, nurturing, reaping. It is like cooking. It’s about serving. It’s about sharing what we have. It’s about living!

Luke spends a great deal of time telling us all the things that Jesus said about the kingdom of God. At least forty-two times he makes reference to the kingdom of God. I used to tell my students that they should listen to what I was saying, and if they heard me use a term or refer to some fact several times, they could be sure that it was going to be on the exam!

Well, there is no written exam out there for us about the kingdom of God, but I have a pretty good idea that our exam is on a daily basis. First of all, we have to find out what the kingdom of God is all about. Then we have to live what we have learned. That will be our exam. Luke is a great place to begin, and we can find there the most practical teaching about how we, as people of the kingdom of God, are supposed to live.

Prayer: Father, we thank you that you have called us to be kingdom people, in a world that is committed to all kinds of kingdoms but not to yours. Help us to learn what that means and during this Easter season to resolve to live as kingdom citizens for the rest of our lives. Amen.

And He Set His Face toward Jerusalem. . . .

A Lenten Devotional Guide
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, Spring 2007,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator