Synoptic Gospels 5: Herald of the Kingdom (5)
Pray Psalm 96.1-4.
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
Sing Psalm 96.1-4.
(Mit Freuden Zart: Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above)
Sing to the LORD! O, bless His Name! All nations tell His glory!
Salvation’s tidings loud proclaim; let earth rehearse His story!
For God is greatly to be praised; His throne above all gods is raised!
Fear Him and sing His glory!
Read and meditate on Matthew 6.10, 33; Luke 11.2.
Preparation
1. Concerning the Kingdom, what should we pray?
2. What promise accompanies seeking the Kingdom?
Meditation
We recall that Jesus came to announce that the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matt. 4.17). It was very near. He was its Proclamation and Prototype, its Teacher and Template. What does the Kingdom teach and require? Listen to Jesus. What is it like to enter and dwell in God’s Kingdom? Look at Jesus. Jesus set up the world for the coming of His Kingdom, and here we find Him insisting on it as the defining priority of our lives.
Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek these first, always, and in everything. Seeking the Kingdom is not something we do only when we’re involved in “church activities”. We are called to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12) as the framework, focus, and future of our lives in Christ. To seek the Kingdom is to devote ourselves, in everything we do, to increasing righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit on earth as in heaven (Rom. 14.17, 18; Matt. 6.10). We won’t have anything to worry about if we devote ourselves, day by day, to seeking God’s Kingdom.
The Kingdom which Jesus brought near actually burst into time on the first Christian Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came to bring and empower it. It has been increasing like a growing stone since then, and nothing can prevent its ultimate victory when Jesus returns (Dan. 2.44, 45).
If we will give ourselves, every day, to seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we will find the way and power to persevere through any trials or hardships, any setbacks or disappointments, and all opposition or adversity to realize more of the Presence, promise, and power of Him Who promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28.20).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus said to His disciples:
“To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God?
Or with what parable shall we picture it?” (Mk. 4.30).
In cartoons, when the drawing sees something that is really astonishing its eyes pop out with amazement, and then grudgingly return to their sockets. That’s how I felt reading Mark 4.30 this morning. For some reason, the words, Kingdom of God, jumped right off the page.
What? We are invited to live and work in The Kingdom of God?
We are allowed to serve The God, The Creator of heaven and earth?
Our very lives have been saved by The Son of God, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world?
“For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (Ps. 96.4-6).
The ark of God had been captured by the Philistines and they took it home to Ashdod.
They decided the best place to display it would be in the house of Dagon, right beside their god Mr. Dagon.
Well, here is what happened: “And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.
And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day” (1 Sam. 5.1-5). A god against God never succeeds.
And the foolishness of the lost? They continue to prop up their wannabe god and just don’t step on where he fell? Always careful never to wander near the truth.
But our God? He rules in the Kingdom of men (Dan. 4.17, 32) and heaven. He rules the galaxies, and past the galaxies into forever.
And as His servants, we say: Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is always done in heaven (Matt. 6.10).
And what do His servants do?
We hallow His Name—setting Him apart as holy, worthy of respect, honor, reverence, glory, and praise (Lk. 11.2). We seek His Kingdom first and foremost; and His righteousness always (Matt. 6.33).
An earthly king, who learned about the majesty of our God, spoke thusly:
“To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.
For He is the living God, and steadfast forever;
His Kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
and His dominion shall endure to the end.
He delivers and rescues, and
He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions” (Dan. 6.25-27).
There He is! Our God. Ruling His Kingdom—our first and only priority!
Reflection
1. What do we mean by saying that seeking the Kingdom is the defining priority of our lives?
2. How have you seen the heavenly Kingdom coming to earth in your life of late?
3. How can believers encourage one another to be more passionate and consistent Kingdom-seekers?
The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 6.25-34
Pray Psalm 96.5-13.
Pray for your witness to Christ and His Kingdom, that you may declare His reign gladly and look forward to His return with eager anticipation.
Sing Psalm 96.5-13.
(Mit Freuden Zart: Sing to the Lord, Who Reigns Above)
All other gods are idols vain; the LORD created heaven.
Splendor and strength with Him obtain; to Him be glory given!
All fam’lies, praise this mighty LORD! Give strength and glory to His Word;
exalt the LORD of heaven!
Bring off’rings sweet to Him, our LORD, in holy garments praise Him!
Tremble before Him, all the earth; among the nations raise Him!
The earth is fixed, it will not move; the peoples will His justice prove.
Exalt the LORD and praise Him!
Let heaven sing with lusty voice; let earth and sea sing sweetly!
Let fields and trees in Him rejoice, for He is coming swiftly
to judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in His faithfulness.
He comes; exalt Him greatly!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast is concentrating on praying the psalms to seek revival—why we should and what we might expect. In our twice-weekly Crosfigell column we have begun a new series on Brendan, called “The Navigator.” Why was he called that? Join us and find out. Our current ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church”, enters the home stretch now by leading us to pray for our church’s impact. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
