Category Archives: The Kingdom of God

The Romans Challenge: Governing Authorities

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“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Years ago I was consumed with Talk Radio. I listened to it every day for hours. I talked about what I heard to my family. I was very concerned about the “Governing authorities.” I was so concerned that I would worry about the world I was raising my kids in. I lived in an uneasy state. I felt like it was up to me to do something to change things and I knew the problems were bigger than me…After a huge election loss of the party that I supported, I was in great dismay. It was then that I came to the conclusion that I needed to look to Someone bigger than the situations that I was seeing around me — God.

God is sovereign. This means He is supreme in power. He is King over all! Daniel 2:21 says:

“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
‭‭Daniel‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can be confident knowing that “There is no authority except that which God has established.” God is in control! Whether the authorities over us follow God wholeheartedly or refuse to acknowledge Him, God is working in our Nation and the nations of the world. We can take courage that God has a plan. This plan is not one of a political bent. It is the advancement of His Kingdom! He is King of Kings! Ultimately, it does not matter what the earthly rulers choose, God’s purposes for our world will prevail!

God instructs us to pray for those who are in authority over us. But ours is not to worry about who is sitting in the Oval Office, the Kremlin, or any other governing office. God is in control of that. As citizens of Heaven FIRST, our allegiance is King Jesus!

We can rest in the assurance that “The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God is always at work, and He is in control!

The Romans Challenge: One Body In Christ

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“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are one. We are connected, attached, and united to each other. Paul uses the metaphor of a human body. “We have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.” We have unity, but we are also diverse. My part of the body differs from yours. We each have our function. BUT, even though we are different, we NEED each other!

Each of us are gifted in different ways to bring glory to God and to serve Him and serve one another. One persons gifting and abilities is solely for that purpose. No one is better than the other. We shouldn’t “think of {ourselves} more highly than {we} ought to think.”

God has gifted us with His gifting for a purpose. What He has given to us we need to use! If we don’t the other parts of the Body of Christ— the Church will suffer. What God has given to us, our part we play, is important for making the Body of Christ strong and building it up. He wants us to participate in His good plan to have His people united, strong, and on mission to share with others His love. He has given us all that we need and equipped us. The question is, “will I respond ‘yes’ to Him and live connected to Him and His Church?”

James: No Favoritism

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“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Today is James 2)

I have four kids, who are all adults now. Throughout the years my husband and I have tried very hard to treat them equally. (However, I am sure that there have been times we did not do this perfectly)

Each Christmas, they had close to the same amount of presents with the same amount spent on each of them. Whatever their needs have been we have tried to pay close to the same amount and spent equal amounts of time. My goal has been that they would each feel that they were my favorite. They frequently joke about who is my favorite. The truth is… THEY ALL ARE!

If they begin to think any differently, it cause all kinds of issues. Favoritism divides.

In the family of God (i.e. the Church) we are all God’s favorite as well. The word favorite is defined as “A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor, preference and affection; one greatly beloved.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) God is equitable. If I am someone he regards with favor, preference, affection and love, then so are you! He does not look at our social status, our ethnicity, our wealth or the lack thereof… “For God so loved the World…” He loves us all and He loves each of us completely and perfectly. He is Love. His love cannot be divided into different sizes or portions. We are to love like our Heavenly Father does!

Favoritism or giving a preference to one over another. It is giving special attention to someone. James states that having favoritism is a sin. (Verse 8)

The remedy for favoritism is found in what Jesus called the second greatest commandment:

““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

James says if you do that “you are doing right.”

Everyone is equal at the foot of the cross. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness and hearts that need to be transformed. Those who are born again are born again into a family where we are one in Jesus!

If we elevate or devalue someone according to what they possess materially, (or for any other reason) we are missing the mark, in sin. We are dividing what God has created to be united in Him — ONE!

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts — Proclaiming the Kingdom

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Today is Acts 28.

The final chapter of Acts tells of Paul’s time on the island of Malta and the miracles that happened there and his arrival at Rome. No matter what the circumstances or possible opposition, Paul preached to everyone and anyone who would listen to him.

The final verse of Acts says this:

“He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” Acts 28:31 NIV

Paul lived a life that experienced the promised power to be a witness. He knew how to receive comfort in hard times from the Holy Spirit. His life is an example of what being full of the Holy Spirit is like.

God has offered us the same New Beginning that Paul experienced. We too can experience Jesus and receive His New Life! The same Holy Spirit that Paul was filled with when Ananias placed his hands on Paul in Acts 9, desires to fill us too!

May we proclaim the kingdom and teach others about the Lord Jesus as Paul did, “with all boldness and without hindrance.” (verse 31)

Christmas in Luke (Day 13)

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Today’s reading is Luke 13.


As we have seen, Jesus often spoke in parables. Todays reading has a parable that describes God’s heavenly kingdom. Jesus compares it to a mustard seed that is planted in a garden. It grew and grew to be a tree. The birds even found a place to rest in it. (verses 18-20)

God’s Kingdom had what seemed to be a tiny beginning. How could a baby born to a poor couple in an insignificant town two thousand years ago be a King? Not just a king, but THE King of Kings! What are the odds of such a small beginning becoming such a large influence on the world? Pretty slim. Consider the likelihood of the message the King proclaimed throughout His life being proclaimed through centuries. It was not a message of political dominance of His kingdom, or a powerful rebellion to the oppressive Roman government of His time, but a message of spiritual freedom instead, freedom within.

Jesus was right to compare the mustard seed and the tree it produced to His Kingdom and it’s influence. What started in a manger in Bethlehem with His birth, endured a burial (much like a seed) in a borrowed tomb, followed by a resurrection. The plant had come up from the ground. Then 50 days later during the feast of Pentecost the tree’s size multiplied greatly with the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and fill us to overflowing! (The church was born). That “mustard seed plant” GREW! Now centuries later it still stands growing larger and larger! Against all worldly odds the Kingdom grew and it remains!

But let’s take this down to a smaller scale. Jesus’ Kingdom planted within our hearts can grow and grow as well. Influencing every area of our lives. It brings freedom, joy, peace, hope, and love! The same small “seed”, that as a Baby born in Bethlehem, has changed our world. It can be planted in our hearts changing our lives! May we let the “mustard seed” of the Kingdom be deeply planted within us, and may it grow!