witness the kingdom

Jimmy Martin, IBC director, spoke this morning from Mt 13.44-46, 51-52. Regarding the Kingdom of God, first of all there are "finders". That is we have to find the Kingdom of God. Some find it by accident, e.g., Paul, others after a serious search, e.g., the Ethiopian and Lidia. Of course we cannot "find" God until He has found us. That is, by the power of His Spirit He must first change our hearts. Short of that, no man can claim to seek God. But, in a sense, we find the Kingdom of God. Then we consider its value. We see that it will bring great wealth and satisfaction. But then we must consider the cost. The Kingdom demands a great exchange. While it is free, it still costs everything (Isa 55). Finally then, we are to share the Kingdom. The greatest need of man is to know God. Christians through the Church are to be God's positive witnesses. Sadly, we are often negative ones. But by His power, this can change.

We need a passion for God to treasure Him in our hearts, i.e., worship. And we need compassion for people to love them enough to warn them and "woo" them, i.e., missions and evangelism.

St. Francis of Assissi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury pardon, where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is desire, hope, where there is darkness light;
Where there is sadness joy.
O divine Master: Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console.
To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love,
For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

This was a really good message by a really great guy. My follow-up conversation with my family was, "ok, so once we discover the Kingdom, consider it's value and its cost, we must then give it away. Now, what is the Kingdom?" My point was that some people see the Gospel as salvation through Christ's death and resurrection. Others see our salvation as only part of the Gospel and that the Gospel is more holistic in that it encompasses the entirety of redemption. Hmmm....

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