His Kingdom First
Jesus said, "Repent and believe, for the Kingdom of God is at hand."
For some, that statement brought fear and mistrust. They feared their kingdom would be brought down by an insurrection lead by a powerful, charismatic king. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him" (Matthew 14:1-2).
For some there was jealousy. This man is trying to destroy the religious hold we have on the people. "...you experts of the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them" (Luke 11:46).
For some it brought hope for justice. A powerful king was coming to break the hold of tyranny that the Roman Empire had over them. They greeted Jesus on the road into Jerusalem with triumphal salutations. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:8-10)
This visitation had nothing to do with building a physical kingdom and everything to do with advancing a spiritual kingdom. It had nothing to do with leading a powerful army into battle to defeat Rome and everything to do with reaching the weak, the worn, the weary, and the lost to defeat Satan.
God was saying I have come in human form to walk among you so that you may know and relate with me intimately and I may relate with you in a way that you can understand. "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And the fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:1-3).
We are in desperate times as many watch their savings dwindle day by day. We see the value of our homes decrease. Banks and financial institutions fail and businesses close. The stock market and Wall Street demand our daily attention as hour by hour millions of dollars are gained or lost. But God's Word says don't put your trust in these earthly things instead "...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus said, "Repent and believe, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1:15). It is a simple message delivered by an itinerant preacher over 2,000 years ago who just happened to be the Son of the Living God, the creator of the universe and beyond. It is so like God to provide us the gift of repentance knowing that we will be in desperate need of such a gift during our spiritual journey.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus, Who was, Who is, and Who is to come!
Maranatha!
Don & Christine Harman
ReignDown USA Board Members
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