God’s Kingdom Power Flows Through You
(The idea for this article came from Jeff Bass’ entry in our 40-Day Journey)
Eternal Life – experiencing and living in the Kingdom of God now and forever – is a matter of loving the Lord with all that you are, and loving your neighbor as yourself; that’s what Jesus said. Two questions come to mind:
- Why is loving your neighbor so important?
- How do we know who and how to love?
Jesus explained the concept of loving your neighbor with a story. (Luke 10:25-37) It was a story that described someone in great need. The Kingdom of God is a matter of recognizing the person behind the need, and caring for them amidst their needs. This is what God does for us, and it is what He wants us to do for others. Your Kingdom neighbor is the one near you in need. To be Kingdom neighborly is to care for them, and help them with their needs.
This kind of caring service describes the form of the Kingdom, but it doesn’t let us see why it is so important. It doesn’t uncover the Kingdom power involved behind the visible activity. In Ephesians 2:10, however, we see a very important principle that helps us understand why caring for others is so vitally important. The apostle Paul writes, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God is continually working in our lives. He made our frame, and He is using experiences and understandings to shape us. We are being honed as tools in His hand. Additionally, He is always working around us. He is preparing opportunities and needs that He wants to meet through us. When we meet the needs of others, we are “completing the loop” of God’s Kingdom circuit. When God’s work within us is connected to the opportunities and needs in people (that He has prepared) around us, His Kingdom power and eternal glory is released.
God’s intent is that His wisdom and power be revealed in the heavens through the worship and caring service of His people. (Ephesians 3:10) When we worship, we are connected to God’s Kingdom revelation and power; when we care for our neighbor in need the power and glory of God’s Kingdom are released in the earth.
God’s power is experienced and released when you are connected to the needs of others. The circuit is broken, however, when you are disengaged from those needs that He has prepared in advance for you to meet.
Connecting with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
