Tag: kingdom of god

There Is Hope (Psalm 89:20-37)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Ethiopian Orthodox depiction of Jesus

“I have found my servant David;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him;
    the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
    and my covenant with him will stand firm.
I will establish his line forever
    and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my ordinances,
if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their iniquity with scourges,
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.
His line shall continue forever,
    and his throne endure before me like the sun.
It shall be established forever like the moon,
    an enduring witness in the skies.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Back when today’s psalm was originally crafted, there was a lot of stress for the Jews in Jerusalem. The city was in ruins, the land without their king, and the people were experiencing divine judgment from their God.

Into this situation, the psalmist brought some light from darkness; and hope for the survivors, that blessings lay in the future. The psalm is a song of prayer, speaking of the Lord’s faithfulness and steadfast love because of the promises made to the people’s ancient ancestor, King David.

The covenant between God and the people, made so many centuries ago, will never be broken. Why? Because fidelity to that covenant doesn’t depend on the people, but on the faithfulness of God and God’s timeless moral law.

The Lord God, the Almighty, did not forsake nor forget the people. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning; and God’s faithful love is forever.

Renewal and restoration are very real possibilities, despite the dire circumstances, and the people’s spiritual infidelity. Once again in history, one worthy of the throne of David will sit to judge the people with equity and grace.

The Son of David will be the custodian of God’s covenant promises. Evil shall be defeated. Authority to forgive sins, and to grant eternal life, will be established on earth. Indeed, the Lord’s enduring words and ways will be accomplished on this earth, as they are always done in God’s heaven.

The divine covenant will find its ultimate fulfillment in One whose throne is established for all eternity. The anointed one, the God-Man, will carry the burden of government on his shoulders; his rule and authority shall extend over the whole earth. (Isaiah 9:7)

Acting with the power of God, this Ruler is the visible image of the invisible God – the Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. For the Christian, these qualifications and descriptions are all met in the person of Jesus the Christ.

In a thoroughly and unabashed Christo-centric reading of the psalm, Jesus is the ultimate Messiah and High Priest who offered himself as the faultless, acceptable, eternal, and final sacrifice on behalf of the whole world. (Isaiah 53)

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2, NRSV)

Through Jesus, the New Testament perspective is that the old Mosaic Covenant became obsolete, and the New Covenant – promised by the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel – took its place. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Hebrews 8:13)

Although this High Priest died, he also was raised to life, and ascended to heaven – where he continues to intercede for God’s people.

He holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25, NRSV)

Before David was anointed king, Saul and his enemies hunted him and tried to kill him. Yet, through all of those twists and turns of harrowing circumstances, David trusted in the Lord and patiently waited for God to ensconce him as king. In time, that is precisely what happened. And David became the greatest king Israel ever had.

In much the same way, that fox King Herod tried to kill Jesus. Then later, Herod’s son, along with the religious establishment, sought to kill Jesus, as well. Behind the murderous intent, and every intent of doing away with the innocent, are the dark evil forces of this world.

The Accuser, Satan, the devil, tried to tempt the Christ and subvert the will of God, thus making the New Covenant something that would never happen. But Jesus was obedient to the Father – obedient even to death. (Philippians 2:8)

Christ Jesus offered himself willingly. His death may have been orchestrated by the existence of evil on this earth, yet it was God who allowed it all to occur, so that evil’s murderous tool, death, would become impotent.

The power of sin, death, and hell has been broken; but it will take awhile before the kingdom of God is established in all its grace and glory, and David’s fallen Tabernacle restored.

No matter how difficult, chaotic, and frustrating our current earthly situation may be, God will still establish the king; the good work begun and effected shall ultimately be thoroughly fulfilled. Jesus is coming again.

Until then, the good news is proclaimed that the kingdom of God is near. There is grace and forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Peace is no longer a pipe dream. Hope is real.

O Lord, when evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide, so that we may find serenity in Your presence, and purpose in doing Your will. Amen.

Listen Carefully (Mark 4:21-25)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading BlogLeave a comment

Jesus went on: “Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a bucket or beneath the bed? Don’t you put it up on a table or on the mantel? We’re not keeping secrets, we’re telling them; we’re not hiding things, we’re bringing them out into the open.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?

“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” (The Message)

Karma is a word from Hinduism which refers to the sum of a person’s actions in this life and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in the future. Contemporary Western society has picked up on this and uses the word in reference to a more universal reality.

The proverbial wisdom is that we typically get what we deserve by receiving exactly from others what we give to them in this life.

Jesus let us know that the way we treat others is the way we ourselves will be treated. A generosity of spirit toward one’s fellow humanity will come back in a similar way; and a stingy or miserly spirit will also be returned in kind. It’s a basic reality that we tend to receive what we give.

Every person has the capacity to elevate humanity, because people tend to live up to how they are being treated. What’s more, the initiator of basic human kindness and benevolence will find themselves receiving back much more than they put into it.

Now please understand that this is not some sort of ironclad law of the universe. If I give a dollar to someone, I won’t automatically get two dollars back later. If someone scratches your back, you may not be able to scratch theirs. The idea is rather that – all things being equal – if we live a wise and good life, full of giving and generosity – we will most likely not become destitute and in want.

That’s why classic movies, such as A Wonderful Life, resonate deeply with us. George Bailey went through a very trying time in his life when his business was in a pinch. But his way of living was above board and he freely lent to others, even when things were tough.

In the end, George experienced a rich encounter of his neighbors coming together to help, in the family’s time of need. George had been making a huge difference all along, and he never really knew how impactful it all was, until an angel imaginatively revealed it to him.

There is nothing that is truly hidden; all things shall be disclosed. Nor is anything really a secret; everything will come to light.

Jesus gave to his disciples (and to us) the secret of God’s rule and reign on this earth. Therefore, no one is to be complacent, rest on their laurels, or go about life with a “meh” sort of attitude. We must pay attention to the insight we’ve been given; and act on it.

God’s benevolent kingdom will be successful and have its way in this world. Although the Lord’s ethical agenda shall ultimately win out, there yet remains dark forces which temporarily oppose this good divine plan.

It’s important to be patient, and to persevere in doing good. We will see a harvest of righteousness if we don’t give up. So, keep on having a generous spirit of merciful giving. Keep going with living a humble and pure life. Continue on the path of justice and righteousness.

Whenever we encounter opposition, even persecution, or when evil appears to be having the day, don’t be discouraged. This is all part of the life and ministry to which we are called. We get up in the morning, keep planting gospel seeds of grace, and understand that it is God who gives the growth and the harvest.

Road to Emmaus, by Robert Zünd, 1877

Freely give, as freely as you have received. With the mercy and love shown to you, pass it on to others. As you become filled to the full, with the life of Christ, allow this to spill over onto others who are in need of comfort, encouragement, forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope.

Specifically, Jesus is the revealer of mysteries. In Christ, that which was hidden is now revealed; the secret things of God are on full display in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is hope and life. Folks place faith in him, and are shown how to love and navigate this world according to the divine agenda. The magnanimous and generous spirit of Jesus Christ changes the world. The waves and ripples of his life and work are still filling the world.

In this present evil age, we have everything we need for life and godliness – because of Jesus.

I am wondering about us, about you and me. We are relational creatures, created by a good God in God’s very own image. The Lord has gone out of the way to create a divine/human connection that is supremely good, life-giving, and enjoyable.

Yet, all of us, in one way or another, have searched in all sorts of places, in vain, for the love which has been right there in front of us the entire time.

Jesus is the Light of the world, the Bread of life, the Good Shepherd, Living Water, and Savior of the world. And he is waiting patiently – to be the light at the end of the tunnel, the spiritual sustainer, the loving guide, and the deliverer from anything and everything that hinders your ability to be truly alive.

The Lord longs to be generous to us. Yet, you and I must be willing to receive, to hold out our open hands and take what God gives us. Our ears need to be open for listening to what the Lord is saying.

If our ears, hands, and hearts are open to others, there is a very good chance that God will be open to us. It isn’t necessarily karma; it’s just the way things are in the gracious and benevolent kingdom of God.

Oh God, our loving Creator and Giver of all good gifts, bless all churches and communities of faith; strengthen our faith and grant us the spirit of Christian stewardship so that we may give generously of our time, talent and treasure to spread your benevolent kingdom here and throughout the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Who Is In Control? (Psalm 47)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Ascension, by Angela Taylor Perry

Clap your hands, all you peoples;
    shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
    a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves.

God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm.

God is king over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted. (New Revised Standard Version)

Who is in control? This is really a big question. We humans seem almost obsessed with the issue of control.

Some people want to be in charge of regulating everything. Others want to exert force over nothing at all. And there are those who continually want to know the clear lines of authority and who is in control, at all times.

Control, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a good thing. Taking charge of a situation – and especially of oneself – is often needed. Leadership that is informed, decisive, humble, true, and right, is a must.

The problem comes whenever we try to exert domination over another person, or attempt to command an organization when it isn’t our responsibility to do so.

Ultimate control of all things belongs to God, and not to you or me. The psalmist is insistent that God is the Ruler of the universe; and that all things belong to the Lord. God’s commands are good.

The Lord’s dominion is known as the kingdom of God. Whenever people are in sync with this reality, then they are able to be joyful and celebrate the good, right, and just Being who is in control.

Yet, if people have problems trusting another; desire to always call the shots on everything; and command everyone; there you will find a host of miserable people – with the one trying to exert control as the most miserable of all.

People, instead, are called to self-control. We are to have charge over our own thoughts and actions. It’s important to have sobriety in our lives in which we can use proper restraint, as well as needed initiative.

Be alert and be of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

In order to get our lines of authority in the proper places, and to participate in the established rhythms of control in the universe, we are commanded to clap, shout, and sing. Because God has ultimate control, divine initiatives are grounded in goodness, justice, righteousness, and deliverance from evil. The Lord has mercifully acted on behalf of people.

The Lord only asks of us to do things that he himself has done. The psalm states that “God has gone up with a shout.” We shout because God shouts. God rules over the nations, and was not simply some local deity that the ancient Israelites served and worshiped. The divine presence is with those who acknowledge God; they will hear the Lord’s shout.

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.” (Numbers 23:20-22, NIV)

We are also told to sing. The reason we do so is because the Lord is high above all people, and is king over the nations. This is something we need to say out loud and to sing, and to not only read silently in our heads. Our ears need to listen to the psalm, to hear the praises of God reverberating on our ear drums.

My people, hear my teaching;
    listen to the words of my mouth. (Psalm 78:1, NIV)

It is perfectly appropriate for Christians to use today’s psalm in reflection upon Ascension Day. Jesus has been lifted up into the sky; God has gone up with a shout. The Lord has equipped us for citizenship in the kingdom of God. We have solid grounds for celebration, shouting, and singing. Jesus is our King.

God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church. (Ephesians 1:20-22, NRSV)

Because of Christ’s ascension, believers in Jesus have the memory of the past, the experience of the present, and a hope for the future. With Jesus in control, there is no need for fear, or for trying to gain control for oneself.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Follow Me (Mark 1:14-20)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Come Follow Me, by Jorge Cocco Santángelo 

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (New Revised Standard Version)

For all the talk of leadership, developing leaders, and being a leader, there is precious little conversation these days about becoming a follower. Perhaps we have such a dearth of leadership for this very reason, because one can only become a good leader if they experientially know what being a follower is.

The Call of Jesus

The call of Jesus is to pursue him, and he will develop us. Follow Jesus, and he’ll show you how to fish for people. All of Christ’s original disciples listened to Jesus, dropped everything they were doing, and immediately followed him.

I am wondering what would make you drop literally everything you are presently doing to pursue an entirely new life. I am curious what would cause you to follow Jesus without any conditions attached whatsoever. 

I am impressed that Peter and Andrew immediately responded to Jesus. They didn’t question Jesus as to whether this was a short term project or a long term assignment he was calling them to. They did not seek a contract with Jesus or ask how he would impact their stock portfolio. 

The first disciples simply dropped everything and left with Jesus.

I suspect they followed Jesus for the same reason I originally decided to follow him – because Jesus is such a compelling person, so gracious, interesting, and loving, that it was really no decision at all. Everything else pales in comparison with Jesus.

Read all four Gospels and the book of Acts and you will find that believers in Jesus follow Jesus; and those who do not follow Jesus are not believers. Followers follow, and those who do not follow are not Christ’s followers.

Jesus still calls people. He calls us to follow him and he will make us fishers of humanity. Maybe you are concerned about this and say, “I have no idea how to fish for people.” The good news is that Jesus said he would make us fishers of people. Jesus is not looking for people with skills he can use; instead, he calls, then develops people into fishers.

Christ always forms people with the ability to follow his call. Jesus will train us; we only need to answer the call to follow. 

When I was five years old my Dad took the training wheels off my bike and told me to ride it. I told him I couldn’t. He told me to get on the bike and he would run beside me. I got on the bike and started to ride with him holding it. When I began to panic, approaching a tree, I started talking to my Dad. But he didn’t answer… because he wasn’t beside me. He dropped out from shagging me a long way back.

We are not called to follow Jesus based on our skills, but on the lack of them so that Jesus will do in us a work of total allegiance and loyalty to the kingdom of God. 

Jesus will make sure to develop the skills we need in order to do what he has called us to do. We only need to hear and answer the call of Jesus to follow. The following is a parable about the church and being fishers of people: 

“Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. Week after week those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. They discussed the importance of fishing and that fishing is the task of every fisherman.  They listened to special speakers talk about fishing and they promoted fishing and looked at all the latest equipment for fishing. They built large buildings called ‘Fishing Headquarters’ so that they could tell as many people as possible about fishing. They organized boards of people to send out fishermen to other places. They offered teaching and classes on how to fish and the best and latest fishing methods. With much training a good many persons got their fishing licenses and became upstanding members of Fishing Headquarters. There was just one thing that they did not do: They didn’t fish. When one person dared to suggest that those who do not catch fish are really not fishermen, the group became angry and kicked that crazy person out their group.”

The Message of Jesus

Jesus said the kingdom of God is near, so repent and believe the good news. For Jesus, the word “kingdom” means God’s intentions and will for this world to come true. Jesus was saying that he is creating a new society – which meant Caesar was not Lord and that people’s loyalty was not ultimately to the Roman Empire. 

The kingdom of heaven, God’s dream society, will eventually spread across the entire earth so that the whole world is God’s sacred space, devoted to love, shaped by justice, living in peace, and abounding with wisdom.  Jesus encouraged us to pray consistent with this idea saying, “May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

If we find ourselves not really working toward Christ’s idea of kingdom, then we need to “repent and believe the good news” that God is working toward restoring all things to their original beauty and luster. The word “repent” means a change of mind which leads to a change of behavior. And “believe” means to put all your eggs in God’s kingdom basket.

None of this is a suggestion, but is rather a straightforward call to follow Jesus in his kingdom building enterprise on this earth. It would, therefore, be a travesty to simply think about the message for a while and follow Jesus if we feel like it, or get around to it.

Jesus wants to make fishers within family systems, workplaces, neighborhoods, and all the places within a typical sphere of living: This requires the following:

  1. Go where the fish are. Fishing would be easy if we could put a basket by the water and have the fish jump into them! But that is not how it works. Rather, it takes intentional activities that connect people together.
  2. Cast the nets. Peter and Andrew did more than take their boat out to the middle of the lake. To catch fish, they threw their nets into the water. Here is what I believe this means for us: We do what is fair and just to our neighbors. We extend compassion to them and are steadfast in our love, even when others are unlovely. And we do not take ourselves too seriously.
  3. Obey Jesus and walk with him. After Christ’s resurrection, Jesus came to some of the disciples, who had fished unsuccessfully all night. He told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat – which seemed like nonsense, but they did it anyway. It resulted in a great catch (John 21:1-14). During the three years of Christ’s earthly ministry, the disciples did everything with him – they walked, talked, and ate with Jesus. And when he ascended to heaven, they acted on the Great Commission given to them by Jesus to make other disciples.

May God cleanse our lips and our lives so that we might proclaim the good news of Christ’s kingdom with glad and sincere hearts to the glory of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children, we praise you for all you have given us, for all you have done for us, for all that you are to us. In our weakness, you are strength, in our darkness, you are light, in our sorrow, you are comfort and peace. We cannot number your blessings; we cannot declare your love: For all your blessings we bless you. May we live as in your presence, and love the things that you love, and serve you in our daily lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.