God is love.  God is also king.  This means that His kingdom is one that is ruled and governed by love.  What’s more, God invites the citizens of His kingdom not only to partake of His love, but to participate in it as well.

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31 NLT).

The citizens of God’s kingdom are people of love.  This defines how we live in and interact with the world around us.  Join us this Lent as we explore together what it means to live in the kingdom of God.

Each week we will be posting a new devotional that will help us better understand what Jesus meant when He spoke of the kingdom of God (and He spoke of the kingdom a lot).  Our hope is that we would become further captivated by Jesus’ kingdom vision and that our hearts and lives would be transformed to reflect this in everything we think, do and say. 

So as we enter this time together, this is our deepest prayer.  “Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.  May Your Kingdom come soon.  May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).

We’re so excited that you’ve decided to join us on this exploration of what it means to live in the kingdom of God.   This week’s devotional is based on Luke 10:25-37.  You’ll find the text below, followed by a few questions to help us reflect on what we’ve read.  But before we begin, let’s pray.

Father, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to understand what You would like to reveal to us through this passage.

Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.  31“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.  33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Reflection Questions

1. In the story Jesus told, three different people saw the injured man by the side of the road but only one stopped to get close and spend time with him.  Whether or not this is a familiar story to you, when you read what happened to this man, did you stop to truly see his plight and draw close to him in his pain and suffering?  Did you allow yourself to feel compassion for him, just as the Samaritan did?  Why or why not?

2. The Samaritan’s compassion for the injured man moved him to action.  Do you think that it’s necessary for compassion to lead to an action of some sort?  In your own life, would you say that compassion inspires you to act?  Why or why not?

3. The priest, the temple assistant and the Samaritan were all going about their days as normal, when they came across the injured man.  They had plans for their days; places to go, people to see and things to do.  They all had a choice.  They could view the injured man as an unwanted interruption or inconvenience, someone to be ignored or possibly to assist, albeit grudgingly, or they could view him and his plight as an opportunity to show God’s love and help someone else experience the kingdom of God.  Jesus is inviting you to be a neighbour to others and show them mercy.  What is your response to His invitation?

Last week we looked at Jesus’s invitation to be neighbours to others by showing them compassion and mercy.  Since mercy and compassion are defining characteristics of the kingdom of God, this week we’re going to take the time to further explore these ideas by looking at a passage from Matthew 25.  You’ll find the text, as well as a few reflection questions below.  Let’s pray and get started.

Father, Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  Guide us here.  Amen.

Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Reflection Questions

1. Take some time to reflect on the past week.  To whom and under what circumstances were you able to show mercy and compassion?  Conversely, to whom and under what circumstances were you not?  Considering your responses above, what factors influence whether or not you show mercy and compassion to someone else?

2. Oftentimes when we reflect on our actions, it’s the big things that stick out.  However, in this story, Jesus highlights some simple acts of love; things He deemed important.  What’s interesting is that the individuals who carried out these actions didn’t consider them to be particularly significant.  This was just how they lived – loving others (no matter who they were) as they loved themselves.   In your day to day life, would you say that loving others is just how you live?  Is this true in both the big and little things?  What would you say is needed in order for compassion to become an even more natural and regular occurrence in your life as a Jesus follower?

3. In this story, Jesus equates seeing and responding to the needs of others to seeing and helping Him.

These past few weeks we’ve seen that God’s kingdom is one filled with mercy and compassion.  At all times and in all seasons, strangers, friends and enemies are shown love here.  This is a beautiful and inspiring reality.  I have to confess though that the thought of this also leaves me feeling a bit exhausted.  It seems like we never get a break.  Do we have to be “on” all the time?  Am I missing something here?  (I’m assuming that I’m not the only one who feels this way at times)

Jesus commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves and since He commands it, it means that it is possible.  Moreover, it also means that we can love our neighbours without burning ourselves out in the process.  So what is the secret?  How do we love fully and faithfully without working ourselves to the brink of exhaustion?  These are the questions we’re going to explore today as we look at Mark 6:30-46.  Let’s pray and then we can get into the passage.

Father, Your words are faithful and true.  As we take them in, may we be transformed thereby, so that we can honour you in our thoughts, words and actions.  Amen.

Mark 6:30-46 (NLT)

30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.

32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”

37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”

“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”

38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”

They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”

39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.

41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

Reflection Questions

1. This passage begins and ends with the idea of retreat; intentionally taking time away from the demands of life to be with God, resting in Him, seeking after Him, communing with Him and being refreshed by Him.  This is something Jesus did regularly and He invites His disciples to do the same.  What are your current rhythms of retreat – daily, weekly, monthly and annually?  Are they providing true rest and refreshment for your body, mind and spirit?  Are you receiving the guidance you need from God’s Spirit?  What can you do to strengthen these times?
2. Even carefully laid plans can be derailed at times.  When Jesus’ plan to get away with His disciples and rest was interrupted, His response was one of compassion.  Despite the fact that He was tired, He was able to lovingly minister to the people because He was not operating in His own physical strength but in the strength of the Spirit.  What difference does it make whether you rely on your own strength or God’s strength when caring for or serving others?  Reflecting on how and when you have shown mercy and compassion to others recently, would you say that you have been trusting the sufficiency of God’s grace, that He will provide you with the strength you need in order to do what He is asking of you?
3. When the disciples were faced with the task of feeding the crowd, Jesus had to reorient them so that they focused on what they had, instead of on what they didn’t have.  It can be said that we give out of what we have and not from what we don’t have.  Do you agree or disagree with this statement and why?  If you were to look at your present resources physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally, what would you say you have?  What is your present capacity?  How is Jesus asking you to work with this?

Those who live in the kingdom of God have a distinct identity.  This week we’re going to look into one aspect of this.  Originally, I wasn’t going to talk about identity in these devotionals.  However, when I was getting ready to write this week’s devotional, I woke up in the middle of the night with a scripture on my mind and then reflection questions just started to flow.  I took this to mean that God wanted me to change directions, so I did.
So let’s pray and then we can see what God has in store for us from Matthew 5.

Father, thank You for Your love for us and for the revelation of this love in Your Son Jesus Christ.  As You speak to us today, give us open hearts to receive from You.  Amen.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Reflection Questions

1. Jesus calls His disciples salt and light.  What do you think this means for you as an individual?  What does it mean for us as a community of Christ followers?  How are you currently living out your calling as salt and light both individually and in community?  Based on how you relate with others, would you say that your words and actions point them towards God or push them away from Him?  Are there any areas in which you sense the Holy Spirit encouraging you to grow in your capacity as salt and light?

2. Being salt and light involves both holy living and doing good deeds.  Why do you think it includes both and not just one or the other?  Would you say that you tend to focus on one of these things over the other?  Why or why not?  Love for God is to be our motivation for holy living and doing good deeds; however, it is very easy to stray from this.  Knowing yourself, what are some things you can do to help you avoid this pitfall?  How can others help support you in this?

3. Take a moment to think about your different spheres of influence.  For example, your family (immediate and extended), your school and/or workplace, your neighbourhood, etc.  Where are salt and light needed in these different contexts?  Take some time to pray about these various needs and to discern how God might be calling you to respond to them.

Week 6

Loving others means we are willing to meet them where they are.  This is what Jesus did through His incarnation.  This is what He did throughout His ministry.  He was not afraid to seek others out and draw close to them.  He wanted to make sure they knew that they had access to God’s kingdom through Him; that He was the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

This week we’re using passages from Luke 18 and 19 to provide us with an example of what it looks like to meet someone where they are and of how God is at work in these moments.  Let’s pray and then we can get started.
Father, Your ways are not our ways.  Fill our hearts with Your love, so that we may know You more deeply and live in joyful submission to You, bringing glory and honour to Your name.  Amen.

Luke 18:24-27, Luke 19:1-9 (NLT)

24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

________

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Reflection Questions

1. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus but there were obstacles in his way – the crowd, his height and his reputation.  What possible barriers are there in your life right now that are keeping you from seeing Jesus more clearly?  What possible obstacles might you have created or endorsed that keep others from being able to see Jesus?  What lies at the root of these barriers and/or obstacles?  What would need to change in order for these barriers and/or obstacles to be removed?

2. Zacchaeus was a tax collector.  His fellow citizens would have considered him a traitor, a criminal, a notorious sinner.  Yet, Jesus knows him by name, calls out to him and invites Himself over to Zacchaeus’ house for a meal.  How do you think Jesus viewed Zacchaeus?  Who are the “ Zacchaeus’ ” in your life at the moment?  How do you think Jesus is inviting you to see and respond to these individuals?

3. Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus changed his life.  He was no longer the same man.  Zacchaeus gave up his wealth and the security it brought him, so that he could follow Jesus and live in God’s kingdom.  What no one would have ever imagined possible actually became a reality.  When you see God at work in someone else’s life, what is your response?  Is it the same whether they are considered a friend or an enemy?  Why or why not?  How has God’s transforming power been at work in your life recently?  Also, how has your relationship to the things that this world values (i.e. wealth, accomplishments, power, privilege, position, possessions, pursuit of pleasure, etc.) changed over time?  Would you say that what you value in life lines up with what God values?  Why or why not?  What would Jesus have you know about this?

Week 7

It’s hard to believe that this will be our last devotional.  I hope you’ve been both encouraged and challenged as we’ve journeyed together this Lent, I know I have been.  Let’s pray and see what God has in store for us as we spend some time in John 21.

Father, thank You for the life we have in Your Son Jesus.  May we remain in Him and His words remain in us.  Amen.

John 21:1-19 (NLT)

1Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied, 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”  “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Reflection Questions

1. Peter was not a hobby fisherman.  He was a fisherman by trade.  This means that when he said he was going fishing, he was going back to the former occupation he had before he had committed to being a disciple of Jesus.  Jesus, however, had different plans for Peter.  He gave Peter a new commission which was to feed His sheep and take care of His lambs.  When Jesus calls you to something new, do you follow willingly, reluctantly or not at all?  Why is this?  Reflecting on your own life, where can engaging in what is familiar be helpful and where does it have the potential to be harmful?

2. Jesus’ disciples fished all night but caught nothing.  Then when Jesus told them where to fish, they caught an abundance of fish.  Jesus already had a breakfast of fish and bread prepared for His disciples; yet when they came to shore, He invited them to add some of the fish they had just caught to the meal.  These events convey an important kingdom principle which is – as citizens of God’s kingdom we work together with Christ.  There are things for which He alone is responsible and there are others for which we are responsible.  How good are you at leaving in God’s hands the things for which He is responsible and not trying to take the responsibility for these things upon yourself?  Why do you think this can be a struggle at times?  Where and how is Jesus currently asking you to join Him in the work that He is doing in the world around you?  For what will you need to trust Him in order to be able to do this?

3. Jesus asked Peter this question – do you love Me?  Take a moment to picture Jesus asking you the same question.  What would your response be?  Now hear Jesus ask you the same question again.  How would you answer this time?  Finally, hear Jesus pose this question to you  one last time – do you love Me?  How would you respond?  Keeping this imagined interaction in mind, now hear Jesus say these words to you in love “follow Me.”  What is your response?