Over the past year or so, God has been doing something in my mind & heart that stirs up passion and intensity that I haven't experienced in a long while. My understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ and God's purpose and intentions for all of his creation has undergone a transformation that I could not have imagined. In short, viewing the kingdom of God inaugurated in Jesus of Nazareth as the good news of God has reinvigorated my faith and passion for the truth of God, wherever that may lead me! In revisiting the New Testament, I am amazed at the number of time Jesus references the kingdom (121 times according to the concordance) compared to the church (3 times). Whatever Christlikeness is to look like, it must engage and be shaped by the kingdom of God. Jesus taught people to pray - "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." He told his followers to "seek first the kingdom of God and his justice." The more I read of Jesus the more I am enthralled with the man and his mission. When asked to pick sides on a debate, he chose to reframe the questions and issue(s) at hand offering an alternative from left field forcing everyone to revisit and rethink their perspectives from a kingdom viewpoint. What does this look like? I don't know for sure but I have never been so excited about being a Jesus-follower before!!
Jesus came to bring good news...to the poor. He called that good news the kingdom of God & said it was at hand. He invited everyone to enter it & experience life to the fullest! He lived complete love, perfect holiness, and radical justice. He demands the same of his followers. So, as his apprentices, we seek kingdom life & kingdom justice...now!!
- What does this look like for an orthopedic surgeon?
- How can I participate in and seek first the justice of God when interacting with my patients, our current healthcare situation, and fellow healthcare personnel?
- Justice is so much easier to demand than it is to define. How do I remain humble and continually submit my thoughts and desires to God's spirit?
No comments:
Post a Comment