Most of us are aware of how negative things can distract us from following Jesus, but we may fail to recognize that sometimes the allure of good things can do the same. This was the point of one of Jesus’ parables to the people. Jesus taught that a master had prepared a banquet and invitedContinue reading “Distracted by the Good”
Category Archives: Kingdom of God
Choosing The Better Over The Good
The story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42 is a curious one. It reveals that the values of Jesus’ Kingdom are quite opposite to the values of the world. In our world those who accomplish are valued and praised. Martha was a doer; she accomplished; she served Jesus. She was also stressed out becauseContinue reading “Choosing The Better Over The Good”
Jesus’ Upside Down Kingdom
After calling Levi (who was also called Matthew and became one of the twelve apostles), Jesus accompanied him to his home for a banquet along with other tax collectors. Seeing Jesus’ behavior, the Pharisees and Scribes complained to his disciples about Jesus associating with unsavory people. In Jesus’ day, the Jewish tax collectors were perceivedContinue reading “Jesus’ Upside Down Kingdom”
The Radical Nature of Jesus’ Kingdom
Jesus’ healing of the man with leprosy indicates the radical nature of Jesus’ kingdom breaking into the world’s reality. In the Old Testament those afflicted with leprosy were isolated and forced to stay apart; what is today called “social distancing”. They also were required to declare their uncleanliness lest anyone inadvertently get too close toContinue reading “The Radical Nature of Jesus’ Kingdom”
Kingdom Energy
The Lord’s Prayer ends by declaring that God’s kingdom, power and glory will last forever. That means that Jesus’ kingdom is fundamentally different than the present world. To last forever, Jesus’ kingdom must run with different physical laws than the world that is passing away, wearing out, and running down. In the world, even thoughContinue reading “Kingdom Energy”
Dealing With Affluence
For those of us who live in the developed world, we have the challenge of dealing with our affluence. It is important for us to recognize the dangerous snare that the so-called American Dream lays out for us. While the American Dream promises comfort and an appearance of security, it has a high cost ofContinue reading “Dealing With Affluence”
Trusting Father’s Promises
In Jesus’ parable of the sower we may be deceived into thinking that the world has a means of drawing us into a closer relationship with Father, which Jesus addresses with the third defective soil. The seed that falls among the weeds gets choked out because of the power of the weeds. Spiritually, Jesus referredContinue reading “Trusting Father’s Promises”
God’s Will
Anyone who has participated in team sports knows the importance of each player listening to and implementing what the coach taught. For even one player to ignore the coach’s instructions and do what he or she wants can be disaster for the team. If all the players were to follow their own will instead ofContinue reading “God’s Will”
The Kingdom of God
When Jesus taught us, his followers, to address God as Father by implication we also identified ourselves as his children. Therefore, the fact that we are children of God impacts our relationship to his kingdom. Paul declared to the Philippians that we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), therefore citizens of God’s kingdom, but theContinue reading “The Kingdom of God”
Delegated Authority
Several years ago, I remember riding in the car with my sister, whose husband was an officer in the Air Force. When we drove onto the base, the guard saluted her. I asked her why, because she was not in the military nor was any of us in the car. She explained that their carContinue reading “Delegated Authority”
David Freitag 