His Greatness Made Known

"Because of your promise,

and according to your own heart,

you have brought about all this greatness,

to make your servant know it."

2 Samuel 7:21 ESV

One thing is for sure: David loved to sing praises to the Lord and to make his faith in God known to all.  Consider the first stanza of Psalm 21:

"O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices,

and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

You have given him his heart's desire

and have not withheld the request of his lips."

How was David able to sing such praise to God?  He knew God intimately.  David let God into every part of His life, sharing the grief, heartache and joy with the Lord of heaven and earth.  For such a reason David became known as a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22)

But David is not the only one who can gain such a reputation.  I, too, can invite the God of the universe into the nitty-gritty parts of my life through faith in Jesus Christ.  I, too, can open my heart to Him, letting Him in where I dare not let other's see.  I, too, can share my life with Him.  When I do, my heart will become like David's; full of the greatness of God.

The Lord's willingness to include David in His sovereign plan was something the second-crowned king of Israel understood and accepted.  He marveled at the fact that such a majestic and powerful God would bother to bring us into the workings of His plan at all.  But He did and He still does.  Why?

Due to His Promises

"I promise I will always be here for you," the young father assures his son.  The next scene of the movie predictably depicts the death of this well-meaning dad.  The rest of the movie is spent watching this boy grow up without a father and dealing with the fallout of broken promises.

I cringe whenever I hear a parent, or anyone for that matter, guarantee that which is completely out of human control.  Each breath is as a result of the grace of God and none of us knows which day will be our last.  Therefore it is foolish to promise something of which I cannot deliver.

God does not have this same limitation.  He is all-powerful, present everywhere and knows full-well what tomorrow will bring.  In fact, the Lord goes before us, not just aware of the future but already there.  He is not limited by time or space.  Therefore, God is able to not just make a promise, but keep it as well.  For this reason I can trust Him wholly.

Due to His promise-keeping ability, I know that He will always be with me. (Deuteronomy 31:6) I can count on the fact that I belong to Him and He to me. (Isaiah 43:1, Psalm 100:3)  I need not fear His judgement for He has promised an end to condemnation through Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1)  I can look forward with confidence to that place that has been prepared especially for me.  (John 14:1-3)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to the promises He has made and kept.

According to His Heart

Men have sought Him out since the beginning of time, trying to understand His mysterious ways.  How incredible that such a God who is holy and greater than the human mind can fathom desires to be known by those He created!  He has made Himself available to us so that we can seek to become familiar with Him.  It is part of God's nature to love His people in such a warm and intimate way.

Understanding this aspect of God, then, it is not surprising that He desires to include man in the workings of His plan.  He could easily provide for a family's needs by supernaturally speaking the necessities into being.  Instead, it makes His heart sing to send His own to provide in a tangible and practical way. (James 2:15-16)

It is not difficult for God to comfort the grieving heart of one of His children.  Still, He often chooses to send someone who has received that comfort to pass it on to his fellow man. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

God can easily and generously dispense wisdom to those in need. (James 1:5) Often, though, He gives it indirectly through another believer who lends timely words of godly advice. (Titus 2:3-8)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to His heart that cherishes His people.

Make His Greatness Known

It was one of the most difficult classes I had to take during my college career:  Organic Chemistry.  Unfortunately for me, the only available time for me to fit it into my schedule was during the summer.  As I embarked on this short yet intense journey, I learned there would be three professors teaching this course.  

Dividing the class into three equal segments, each professor would cover one part before giving a test.  As a result, I would never benefit from the understanding a student usually gains after the first test.  Instead, each test would be administered by a different professor, thus leaving his class members at a disadvantage.  That summer I never got to know the teaching style and testing practices of one particular teacher.

Thankfully, the Lord is a God who desires to make His greatness known to His children.  He does not make it difficult to learn more about Him as His nature is revealed throughout His creation.  The vastness of His glory is shown throughout the heavens on a starry night.  (Psalm 19:1)  

His creative streak is evident when I visit the zoo and examine the peculiarity of a flamingo's leg or a platypus's appearance. (Genesis 1:20-25)  

His attention to detail is made known through the intricacy of design found in the center of a tulip or in the pattern made by the petals of a rose.

In fact, God is so intent on making His greatness know that He put His very light within His fragile and frail children, adopted through faith in Jesus Christ, so that those who witness their lives will know the power comes from God Himself.  

How could a stutterer sing such beautiful songs?  Or a victim extend such forgiveness?  Or a broken woman exhibit such strength?  It is the surpassing power of God who is found within. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to His willingness to make His greatness known to me.

In the same way that David understood God's desire to use him as part of a divine plan, I can live each day with this same truth ingrained in my heart.   This kind of inclusion is only possible because the Lord is a God who keeps His promises, whose heart is open to His people, and is willing to put His greatness into each of His frail children.  What a gift that such greatness is made known to each of His own!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live with a large image of God.

When do I strive to make much of myself instead of glorifying God in the details of my days?

How am I failing to tap into such greatness?

Kingdom Within

"Once, having been asked by the Pharisees

when the kingdom of God would come,

Jesus replied,

'The kingdom of God does not come

 with your careful observation,

nor will people say, Here it is,

or There it is,

because the kingdom of God is within you.'"

Luke 17:20-21

The people were angry.  For years the occupying force had oppressed them, forcing them to pay taxes, imposing their own culture upon them, and generally making life unbearable.  Their only hope was found in the Holy Scriptures which prophesied of a coming king, a Messiah who would rescue them from their oppressors. (Isaiah 9) The nation of Israel waited with bated breath for their Savior; the one who would restore their rightful place as God's chosen people.

Kingdoms come and go, as anyone who reads the news well knows.  Those who are broken and demoralized fight for freedom from their persecutors, while those who now enjoy freedom struggle to maintain their liberties.  Humans are quite dependent upon governments to provide security, infrastructure and supportive services.  We tend to look to our leaders as the ones who will solve our problems and supply the life we desire.  

Daniel prophesied about and Jesus taught that the freedom, security and stability found in God's kingdom is already available. (Daniel 2:44, Matthew 4:17)   It's not, however, your usual, everyday kingdom.  Instead, it's a realm I can only see with my spiritual eyes.

It's Here

When we go on a trip, I enjoy looking at the map posted at most rest areas.  Usually, there is a pin or some kind of indicator that says, "You are here."  It's always good to know where I am!

If only it were that easy in my relationship with God.  Sometimes, it seems I'm getting closer to Jesus while other times I feel so far away.  Thankfully, my feelings have nothing to do with reality.  Jesus reminds me that His kingdom is already here and I don't have to wait to walk with Him and experience the benefits of His rule.  If I have made Him Lord of my life, then His kingdom is located within me.  I am a part of the kingdom of God.

God's kingdom is not like an ordinary empire or regime.  It is not visible nor does it possess a physical address or location.  Wherever God's people are located, that is where the kingdom of God can be found.  This realm is like that which is found in heaven, as Jesus reveals in His instructions for how to pray found in Matthew 4:17.  He said to pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

In heaven we will be in perfect relationship with our Father and His desires will always rule.  As a follower of Jesus in this fallen world, I can still let His will be done as it is in heaven: without opposition.  

When I obey without question, putting aside all fear, doubt and other sin that so easily entangles, I am fully residing in His kingdom here on earth.  When I let the love of God flow through me unhindered, casting away all judgement, irritation and resentment, I am a resident of God's kingdom.  When I place God in the place of utmost importance, downgrading all other priorities to make way for Him, I am hanging out in God's kingdom.

The kingdom of God is not a place, it is a state of being right with God.  No matter where I am located in this physical world filled with pain, suffering, difficulties and strike, the kingdom of God can go with me.

If I want to see God's kingdom, I can get rid of any resistance I may raise against the will of God in my life.

Way of Living

It is always fun to go traveling as a family and one of the most enjoyable parts is when we cross a border.  As we pass by the sign that welcomes us into the state where our final destination is located, our family lets out some cries of excitement.  "Whoop, whoop!  Yay!  Woooo!"  We know we have almost reached our goal.

It is often said that life is about the journey and not the destination, unlike most road trips.  This frame of thought could also be applied to God's kingdom.  It is not a physical location which I can aim for and once I get there, set up residence.  Instead, it could be considered more of a way of living instead of a goal to reach or a target to hit.

When I enter into a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, I become a member of His family and find His kingdom to be within me.  As I grow, I learn more and more about how God wants me to live and how I can follow Him step by step in order to please Him.  (Galatians 5:16-18)  God becomes bigger, taking up more of my visual field and my fleshly desires are crucified on the cross, leaving behind the fruit of God's Spirit.  

In God's kingdom, love rules supreme.  Anything else that I do, even if my desire is to please God, means nothing if I don't have love.  I can go to great lengths to prove my devotion to God, but if I don't love those who hate me, cherish my family in the way I treat them, or show compassion to the down and out, then all my efforts are in vain.  (1 Corinthians 13, John 21:15-17)  

If I want to see God's kingdom, all I need do is look for His fruit found in the lives of believers everywhere.

Jesus is King

I know the location of God's kingdom is found with every follower of Christ, and the culture is demonstrated through the production of His fruit, but every country needs a ruler.  Who is my king?

Many times, I am my own leader.  I do what my flesh desires, I make decisions based on my own intellect and common sense, and I try to keep myself as comfortable as possible.  If I am going to dwell in God's Kingdom, however, I must let Jesus be my king.  

Kings are different than an elected official.  Power in these monarchies usually transfers between family members as authority is passed down from one generation to another.  Back in the middle ages, kings had ultimate authority and usually did not consider the well being of their  subjects.  Instead, they were mostly concerned with what they could get out of their position or how they could benefit those they loved.  People, as a rule, were not treated very well.

Living in a position where I am submissive to an ultimate authority like a king, I am in deep trouble if that leader does not have my best interest at heart.  Giving any human that kind of power over me would be scary, to say the least.  Thankfully, its not like that with Jesus.  He does care about me and my well being and works everything, even the bad stuff, together for my good. (Romans 8:28)  His love for me never ends and cannot be lost.  (Romans 8:38-39) That means I can trust Him to rule supremely over me.

Giving Jesus kingship means His reputation matters more to me than mine.  If Jesus is my king, I will do as He bids me to do, even if I don't like it or find it awkward or embarrassing.  Placing Jesus in the place of ultimate authority over me means I will live authentically with Him, not hiding my true feelings, fears or disappointments.

If I want to see God's kingdom, I must make Jesus my king by giving Him authority over every aspect of my life.

God's kingdom is not a place that I can find on a map.  Instead, it can be located in the heart of every believer, can be described as a culture of love, and subjects of His kingdom profess Jesus to be King.  If I am ready to live in God's kingdom, I must repent, for it is near!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I learn to live in God's kingdom here on earth.

When do I act like a resident of the world instead of His kingdom?

How do I betray who my real king is in the choices I make,  in the way I act and the words I say?