Uncategorized Murray McLellan on 22 Dec 2007 10:39 am
Jesus’ Kingdom or yours?
I have been reflecting upon the life of Jesus (what a refreshing image!) this morning. As I consider the crowds that gathered around Him while He walked on earth before ascending His throne (i.e. cross!). They wanted to “add” Jesus to their own lives and plans and dreams. They were filled with praise and adoration for Him. They gave Him credit. They made Him a large part of their focus and lives. They, to borrow a phrase, wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Despite their spiritual talk and activity, they were not truly gospel-driven. They justified their own plans for the “now” with “addition”. This was the King they wanted as they filled their bellies with the bread and fish Jesus had multiplied. Jesus was calling them to abandon their lives in the “now,” forsaking the comfort and blessings of their temporary kingdom, to suffer for the cause of a kingdom that knows no end. Jesus called them to lose their lives in this world in order to truly find life. Jesus called them to take up their cross daily and follow Him. Jesus told them that if they love father or mother, children, houses, or lands more than Jesus and His glory and His mission, they cannot be His disciple - a part of His kingdom. “Leave your nets. I will make you fishers of men.” “He who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple,” says the humble, glorious King who did not hang on to the glories and comforts of heaven He had with His Father, but came to earth as an obedient servant who took up His cross to advance the glorious kingdom of God!
Most of them left. Trying to have Jesus as an add on - led to a subtraction.
Jesus is not an “add on.” He is the Alpha and the Omega. His kingdom is what we are living for. This call is not for those who are in or “called” to “full-time ministry” or to “the mission field.” This is the call to every would be disciple of Jesus.
This is the call of the church - Christ’s visible band of misfits. As individuals doing “our thing” only the most-gifted can shine. However, as a community working together with a common purpose and goal, the Spirit who has gifted all of us, can work through us - by the Word and witness of love - in all of us as full-time ministers of the gospel - built together as one new man.
For those of us who have received great grace, this is our responsibility. This is what it is to walk worthy of such a high calling. Many see “full-time” ministry people as the “professionals.” These are the ones who are responsible for Jesus’ mission - and the rest of us just provide the finances and prayer support for them as they bear the responsibility for the advance of the kingdom. The truth is, Jesus calls all who would follow Him - all of His disciples - all of His kingdom citizens - all the members of His body to order their lives together for the gospel! We expect to see the “professionals” choose their place to live and order their lives and time for gospel-centered purposes. They make gospel-driven decisions because they are “called” to ministry. These people have their identity in the gospel. This kind of segmented thinking is totally foreign to the Word of our King. All of us who are His have a new identity. It is bound up in Jesus. He is our Lord and our God. He has sacrificially loved us in mercy and grace and died, embracing the judgment that we deserved. He has loved us and will love us to the end. He has secured for us the blessing and eternal joy of God Himself. Now all of those He owns live Christ-centered, gospel-focused lives. Where and how we live, what we do, our jobs, etc. all are decided upon with kingdom purposes. We live and order our lives as Jesus has purposed - going into communities as a community on mission. There is still room at the feast, and the King has sent us to gather in those who will hear - that His house may be filled.
Jesus’ kingdom is not a group of individuals on their own “missions” and joined together by a common love for Jesus, and who gather weekly to be encouraged and taught the Word to be sent back out on their own individual “missions.” Jesus is the King of a living army - serving and working together as one under the command of the Captain of the host. Jesus is the Head of a body where all the members coordinate together to work as one under the direction of the Head. … a kingdom of unprofitable servants to whom it is “no sacrifice” to give their all for a King who has given His all for them. When we put our “little stories” of our suffering and sacrifice into His “big story,” our little discomfort and effort is not only not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed - but also it makes it a joy to sacrifice for the one who forgave my enormous debt, and so that others can share in the love and joy of Christ. Are we not glad for the opportunity to be able to show Jesus and others how much we treasure Him, by the intentional Kingdom focused choices we make?
My question for you today is, “Are you trying to bring Jesus into your kingdom, or are you abdicating yours and moving into His?
on 23 Dec 2007 at 7:31 pm 1.Julie Cortens said …
That’s a BIG question and I suppose the truth is while I WANT to abdicate mine and move into His, I do bring Him in to mine. My work here - every bit of it, needs to be His work that I might show Jesus and others how much I treasure Him.
After reading this exhortation, I am reminded of a verse from Psa 90:17 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”
Gill’s commentary (an I don’t always agree with Gill) “though God works all works of grace for us, and in us, yet there is a work of duty and obedience to him for us to do; nor should we be slothful and inactive, but be the rather animated to it by what he has done for us: our hands should be continually employed in service for his honour and glory; and, whatever we find to do, do it with all the might of grace we have; and in which we need divine direction and strength, and also establishment, that we may be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord: and this petition is repeated, to show the sense he had of the necessity of it, and of the vehemence and strength of desire after it.”
May we walk worthy of our calling - every second of the day, no matter what the risk, no matter what the ramifications may be - He is worthy. I am in His Kingdom, not mine.
on 25 Dec 2007 at 7:03 am 2.michele said …
I was finally able to get on-line Christmas morning, what a perfect time to read this! I do want to move into His kingdom but I know I’m not always successful. I am so thankful for a Saviour who was willing to go to the cross for my sins, who forgives much. I have this hope to continue daily to be more like Him.
Something else I read this morning I thought I would share from Valley of Vision.
In a world of created changeable things,
Christ and his Word alone remain unshaken.
O to forsake all creatures,
to rest as a stone on him the foundation,
to abide in him, be borne up by him!
For all my mercies come through Christ,
who has designed, purchased, promised, effected them.
How sweet it is to be near him, the Lamb,
filled with holy affections!
When I sin against thee I cross thy will, love, life,
and have no comforter, no creature to go to.
My sin is not so much this or that particular evil,
but my continual separation, disunion, distance from thee,
and having a loose spirit towards thee.
But thou hast given me a present, Jesus thy Son,
as mediatior between thyself and my soul.
a middle-man who in a pit
holds both him below and him above,
for only he can span the chasm breached by sin,
and satisfy divine justice.
May I always lay hold upon this mediator,
as a realized object of faith,
and alone worthy by his love to bridge the gulf.
Let me know that he is dear to me by his Word;
I am one with him by the Word on his part,
and by faith on mine;
If I oppose the Word I oppose my Lord when he is most near;
If I receive the Word I receive my Lord wherein he is nigh.
O thou who hast the hearts of all men in thine hand,
form my heart according to the Word,
according to the image of thy Son,
So shall Christ the Word, and his Word, by my strength and comfort.
on 26 Dec 2007 at 11:28 am 3.Murray said …
Great verse, Julie; and thanks, Michele, for taking the time to write that passage from “Valley of Vision.” It really helps get a better handle on understanding the nature of sin.
May we, as blood-bought citizens, find the joy that comes in serving the purposes of our great King - working together, in community, as one body.
on 07 Jan 2008 at 7:29 am 4.Jan said …
:-D
/jan