Beautiful Word Devotional #151

“The kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17:21

To the Israelites, the kingdom of God meant a piece of land and their sovereign rule in Palestine. It meant a king, like David, ruling from Jerusalem. So when Jesus said these words to the disciples, they must have been confused. Clearly, Jesus wasn’t a military man. He wasn’t leading a renegade band of revolutionaries to conquer the Romans who now occupied their land.

No, Jesus’ kingdom was utterly different from what they had expected. In God’s kingdom, the king laid down his life for his people. God’s presence with his people—not a plot of land—united them. Hearts are the Lord’s temple, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. And this revolution that would overthrow sin, Satan, and death was fueled by love, not fought with swords of metal.

From this side of the cross, we understand more easily and more completely what Jesus meant by these eight words than the disciples ever could. The kingdom of God is not of this world. His kingdom is eternal. And his kingdom will be our eternal home.

Lord, I’m humbled and grateful to be included in your unexpected and eternal kingdom of love. Thank you, amen.