October 5, 2019 DRESSED IN READINESS
Luke 12:29-32, 35 “And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Heavenly Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.”
This section of scriptures cuts right to the core, exposing our motivation in life as well as exposing where our trust lies. These verses either condemn us, or brings us encouragement and joy. I think the key issue for us is that of who and what do we trust for provision-our self, or our Heavenly Father. We are quick to say that our trust is in God, yet, we tend to live as though our provisions for life is up to us. An acid test to show where our trust lies would be our response to being informed that our job was being eliminated, or that our retirement account or our investments had been wiped out. (You may think at this point I am doing a good job of condemning us-but hang in there.) The good news is that our Father has given us His kingdom and in His kingdom, He is our provider. That is not to say that we have no responsibility or that we do not have to work or be industrious; in fact, the scriptures tell us to work with our hands. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. But what is it like to live in the kingdom of God here on earth and how does it affect our responses and how does it shape our view of life? There are only two kingdoms-the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God. In God’s kingdom, God reigns; He is Lord and He has absolute power over everything. His kingdom is one of love, and out of His love, He provides what His subjects (believers) need. God is not a heavenly Santa Clause passing out gifts-He is a God who is about transforming us into His image. A key element of living in His kingdom is that of a sure trust in our Heavenly Father-even when we do not understand. Rather than focus on the ways of the world, we can focus on the ways of God’s kingdom where love and trust are the foundations. Can we truly believe and confess that God is good and that He has our best interest at heart even in difficult times? Words cannot describe His kingdom, but living in His kingdom is beyond comparison to living in the kingdom of this world. I’m out of space for this blog-but know that we have responsibilities in this life, and even though we work to have provision, it is God who has given us the ability and the opportunity to work as unto Him. His kingdom is real; it can be experienced in this life; it has been given to us; it is secure; and it is life indeed. Let us make sure we are kingdom-minded, living by His ways-AND let us look for, and be ready for His return-may we be “dressed in readiness.” To experience His kingdom, we must seek Him first.
Luke 17:21 “Nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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