Luke 17: 20-21
“20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
The Pharisees wanted to know when the Kingdom of God was coming. To this day, we are all wanting to know when the Kingdom of God will arrive. But, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is already among us. It has not arrived with material benefits as the Pharisees expected. It is a spiritual kingdom that inhabits our hearts.
Great stone structures called churches are not evidence of God’s Kingdom. Huge, ornate sanctuaries are not evidence of God’s Kingdom. Large budgets are not evidence of God’s Kingdom.
We can see evidence of God’s Kingdom on earth in the people of faith. Through our love, mercy and forgiveness the world can see the Kingdom. Through our compassion for people who are in need, the Kingdom is visible. Through our humility, the Kingdom is visible. Through our examples of Christ to the least, the last, and the lost the world sees the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is among us….in our hearts.
May the love of Christ be with you
Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)
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