If We’ve Only Got One Life…

The Kingdom Of God

This morning at KCCE, Pastor John spoke about the Kingdom of God - defining what it means for someone to be King, and then showing the implications of God as King.  This section of my message at Crusade from a few weeks ago came to mind:

To Root Our Hope In A Sovereign God

First, God gives us money to root our hope in a Sovereign God, and not in money. Throughout Luke 12, the refrain is, “do not worry”, “do not worry”. Why do we not need to worry? Because God will take care of us. He takes care of the birds of the air and the grass of the field - and you’re so much more valuable than them! He knows every little thing that we need, and it’s trivial for him to give them to us.

Luke 12:30-32 - “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” God knows you need simple, physical things to keep you alive, and he’ll give them to you, but he also knows that what you really need is HIM - the rest are just additions. Notice the word choice in this verse.

• “your Father” - you have a heavenly Dad who, unlike earthly dads, will never let you down and is 100% for you. He’s caring for you and looking out for your best interest. He wants to keep you safe and secure and comfortable and happy, and he knows precisely how to do that…
• “has chosen” - it’s an active decision that he’s made. he could have withheld it from us, but he didn’t - he chose to give it to us
• “gladly” - this is the Father’s attitude - he doesn’t do this begrudgingly or expecting repayment, but with the delight that you would expect from a loving gift-giver
• “to give” - this is the Father’s action - he doesn’t withhold it from you, and he doesn’t lend it to you and expect repayment - it’s a gift
• “flock” - the Father is also called the Good Shepherd. As Christians, we are part of his flock, under his watchful care, protection, and guidance.
• “little” - our relationship to the Father. He is big and powerful, and we are small and weak. But because he is good, he cares for us and protects us.
• “the kingdom” - The kingdom of God is what is referred to here, where the King - Jesus - reigns. Matthew 25:34, in the middle of the parable of the sheep and the goats, says “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” The Kingdom of God is the ultimate blessing for those who love the King, because we get to be with the King forever!
• “Do not be afraid” - we don’t need to fear not obtaining the kingdom, because it’s the Father who has chosen to give it to us. What he decrees will happen will happen, so we need not be afraid.

Your Heavenly Father holds you safely and securely in his arms, gladly giving you the best thing - Himself - along with everything else you need to live. And so our hope is rooted in a Sovereign God, instead of ourselves, and instead of money, to provide us with comfort and security. And with the Father securing us, and providing for all our needs, we can give generously and with compassion and broken-hearted care, not begrudgingly, with uncertainty, or fear. And the more we give, the more we trust his sovereign goodness as HE is unmistakably the one providing for our every need and we’re not looking to ourselves for a secure future.