30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 13 18-21 Experiencing His kingdom 02 Living out His kingdom
📖 Luke 13:18-21
09Oct19 - *Living out His kingdom* - _Luke 13:18-21_ - Bible reading: _Psalm 72:16-17_
_Luke 13:18-19 Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? (19) It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."_
Yesterday, we began by saying that Jesus came to inaugurate His kingdom. This was the good news. This was the experience that we had before the fall of man but when we sinned, we died. We were separated from the Shalom experience, from all of its four dimensions, which is, we lost oneness with God, oneness within ourselves, oneness with our neighbour and oneness with creation or the environment. It was from this bad news that Jesus came to bring us back to the Good news, which is in Christ we are now, new creations.
We see here the illustration that Jesus is giving us regarding life in His kingdom _Mark 4:30-32 Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? (31) It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; (32) but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."_ The kingdom experience begins small but it grows into a large experience, where many are blessed.
There are several passages in scripture, where we see explanations of the life in His kingdom. *(if any of you are interested to have the list of references of life in God’s kingdom, let me know and I’ll send it to you)* _Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this._
When we see verses such as these, we immediately assign this to a futuristic state, when Jesus will set up His kingdom here on earth. We therefore resign ourselves to the terrible state of current affairs around us and we relegate ourselves to just survive and maybe share the gospel to a few people. We are not willing to live out the kingdom life.
Friends, God calls us to be His kingdom people. We are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We must be willing to place our necks under the yoke of His kingdom. That is our mustard seed. We are the mustard seed but when we are willing to be sown as a seed into the ground, the change that God will bring about will be of no comparison to that which was sown.
_Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations._
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you willing to repent of cynicism and sarcasm and accept that you are the mustard seed sown by God.```