Tag: kingdom of god

Strong as an Oak

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality BlogLeave a comment

oak tree

I like oak trees.  In one of my many jobs I’ve had in my life, I was once a delivery driver with a mostly rural route to cover.  I enjoyed those times when I had to deliver to someone way out in the sticks on a faraway gravel road.  Early mornings were the best.  On a cool summer morning I would begin to smell the distinctive odor of a woodworker in his shop, as I drove along.  Entering the woods, untouched by the farmer’s plow, with small creeks winding through the trees, there was enormous oaks.  Yes, even in this day-and-age, there are remote untouched places of pristine beauty – you just need to know where to find them.  I delivered my package, wanting to linger for as long as I could in the celebration of senses.  Off I went, hoping that another day would bring another package to the faraway woods.

Oak trees are majestic.  Strong root systems, thick trunks, unique twisted branches, and beautiful leaves become home for all kinds of bugs, squirrels, birds, and the occasional possum and raccoon.  To have an oak piece of furniture is to have something of permanence.  The wood from an oak is heavy, attesting to its great strength.

Those who seek, discover, and respond to Jesus Christ are much like an oak tree.  Strong, lasting, giving life and shelter to all kinds of creatures.  Read carefully these words from the prophet Isaiah and take note of who the prophecy is directed toward, and what they shall be called:

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. (Isaiah 61:1-3, New Revised Standard Version)

You might quickly observe that these are the words the Lord Jesus quoted in the temple at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4:18).  Our Lord Christ is the one who fulfills these words and gives them their greatest meaning.  Remember those to whom Jesus directed his ministry toward, the very people mentioned in these verses: the oppressed; the brokenhearted; the captives; the prisoners; and, those who mourn.

Jesus clearly discerned that the kingdom of God is flip-flopped from how many people think about it.  God’s kingdom is not made up of the rich and powerful, that is, those who don’t think they need a Savior.  The kingdom is populated with the financially least, the socially lowest, the spiritually lost, the emotionally as well as the physically lame.  While others might believe these are the people who are weak, the prophet and the Lord have something different to say about it.

It is those for whom the bulk of society would consider incapable and/or unworthy of strength and position who are the truly strong in God’s upside-down kingdom.  The weak are incredibly strong, and the strong are woefully weak; the poor are wildly rich, and the rich are pathetically poor; the lost are joyfully found, and the found are slack-jawed in their lostness; the lame are more than able, and the able are laughingly lame.  In short, all these marginal people are described by God as “oaks of righteousness.”

oak tree 2

These people for whom are seemingly forgotten by so many are the ones God will use to display his glory to the world.  God does not choose the wise, the learned, and those with prestige and power.  God pursues those who are discarded by others; who seem useless to the rest of society; and, who appear worthless as emissaries of the King of Kings (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

Maybe oak trees have such an appeal to me because they are a reminder that the truly strong and majestic of this world are made up of people just like you and me – common ordinary sinners and saints who just want to know Jesus better.  To be rooted and established in Christ gives us a quiet strength the world can’t touch (Colossians 2:6-13).

Most of us will never win an Oscar.  None of us will ever be an Arnold Schwarzenegger (whose nickname back in the day was the “Austrian Oak”).  We’ll never play in a Super Bowl; command a Fortune 500 company; or, wow millions of fans with our superior talents.  Instead, we have something better.  We are growing and developing, straining and struggling to become a mighty oak of righteousness.  Perhaps no one will ever notice, but that’s okay.  We are giving life and happiness to all those woodland creatures who need us.

The world is not changed through the power which comes with position, prestige, and pedigree.  This old broken world is mended, repaired, and set right again by the God who uses oaks of righteousness – the quiet enduring strength of you and me – in a kingdom which will never end.  So, may you be encouraged today and every day with the God who is growing you into someone who is mighty and strong.

Matthew 6:19-24

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            There is a reason why we now have laws about texting and driving.  Trying to do those two things at once has ended in far too many accidental deaths.  A text is not worth a life.  When it comes to Christianity, pursuing earthly wealth does not compare to the significance of heavenly wealth.  Trying to live in both worlds of amassing two different kinds of wealth at the same time doesn’t work well in the end.  We cannot practice God’s will and at the same time have a moonlighting job with the world.
 
            In order to communicate this principle, Jesus let us know that we must have an unswerving loyalty, a singular commitment, toward the kingdom of God.  The earthly treasures of power, position, pedigree, and professional acumen, not to mention our personal portfolios, are things that do not necessarily advance God’s kingdom.  We will not take them with us.  But using all the things of this world to nurture and build relationships is a good thing because only relationships are permanent.  We will take people with us.
 
            If we are genuinely committed to God’s kingdom, our most cherished values will be established by God.  How we use our possessions and our influence will be informed and determined by those values.  Maintaining a kingdom-orientation to our earthly lives doesn’t just happen – we must aim for it and pursue it.  Choose today which master you will serve:  God, or money.  Don’t be found texting and driving, and don’t be found trying to have ultimate allegiance to two different gods – they both lead to accidental deaths.
 

 

            Lord Jesus, you are the Master of the universe.  My entire life is yours.  Help me to use all that you have given me in this life toward kingdom ethics so that your merciful rule will extend to all kinds of people.  Amen.

Revelation 11:15

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


             I have done my share of weddings over the years.  Working with engaged couples anticipating marriage is both exciting and awkward.  It is in some ways a difficult time for the betrothed because they are committed to one another in a manner different from just dating, but are not yet in a marriage relationship.  The same is true for the church.  She is betrothed to the Lord Jesus.  They are both quite committed to each other.  But the marriage hasn’t yet happened.  
             The kingdom of God has been inaugurated, but not yet consummated.  That is a fancy way of saying that God’s rule and reign has come to this earth, but its fulfillment has not yet occurred.  This time between the two advents of Christ, his incarnation and his coming again, is a weird and awkward time of engagement where we are trying to figure out how to live in the world but not of it.  But there is a time coming, at the consummation of the ages, when Christ will return to take his bride.  It is then the church will celebrate in a great wedding feast.  “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.”
             Just as marriage is designed for permanence, so our union with Jesus shall last forever.  His reign will never end.  Christ’s rule will be complete and extend over all the earth.  But until then we are to persevere with patience and fidelity to our Lord Jesus, who loved us and gave himself up for us.  Let this truth shape your life today and always.
             Loving Lord Jesus, I praise you for your initiating a beachhead of grace on this earth through your coming to us.  I look expectantly for your return.  May I found faithful when you come again.  Amen.

Luke 12:29-32

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment


            We seek what we desire.  If we seek the kingdom of God, we will pursue the Lord Jesus and aim our love toward knowing him.  But if we seek materialism, wealth, and the accumulation of stuff we will never have enough because worry and fear shall always overwhelm the voice of God’s kingdom.  I make it sound easy, as if the choice were so clear.  On one level it is, but, like most things, it is complicated because we are all a weird hybrid of competing loves and desires.
             So, let’s make a few distinctions that might help us clarify our kingdom calling.  Materialism is not the same thing as hard work.  Materialism is a shield we lug around to protect us from failure and poverty; hard work is about healthy achievement and proper patient growth of assets.  Materialism puts us on a performance treadmill, tied to our self-worth; hard work seeks to improve and is satisfied with a job well done.  Materialism has a never-ending quest for security and protection, but hard work brings gratitude and joy.
             The pursuit of wealth seeks to avoid the criticism of others, seeks their approval, and wrongly believes that money will take away feelings of hurt, pain, and discomfort.  But seeking God’s kingdom as the passionate priority of our lives is the true path of taking away fear and worry.  Any worldly fool can make money; but only the wise and righteous person is able to manage resources in a way that glorifies God, builds up the church, and blesses others.  And it all begins with knowing the difference between depending on God versus depending on self.
             Merciful God, thank you for giving me everything I need for life and godliness in this present world.  Forgive me for every doubting your goodness and ability to provide for me.  Let my life bless the name of Jesus.  Amen.