What Kingdom Really Means
Matthew 6:33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.
Christians talk a lot about the “kingdom of God”; it rolls so easily off the tongue. But hang on a minute. Do we really know what it means? Are we prepared to accept what it means?
These days, the handful of monarchs who reign over their countries are largely symbolic with limited constitutional power. But back in Jesus’ day, a king had the power of life and death over his subjects.
That’d been true throughout Israel’s history and was certainly true of Caesar, since the country was occupied by the Romans. So when Jesus talks about “the kingdom of God”, He’s talking about absolute reign and authority. So now, let’s come at this passage with that understanding:
Matthew 6:33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.
In other words, instead of chasing after all the things you and I want in this life (and let’s be honest, there’s a lot out there to want) the thing we should want most is the kingdom of God; His absolute reign and authority; obeying Him and doing what He wants. Are you prepared to make that your absolute priority … or not?
Bible teacher Glenn Bleakney puts it like this: “Some people treat God as Saul treated David: they want Him to slay giants and chase demons away, but not to rule as King!”
Following Jesus means repenting, turning away from your sin, allowing His Spirit to transform your life so that as you seek His reign and rule first and foremost in your life, you’ll be able to obey Him. Is that what you really want?
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond