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Citizens of God's nation
'THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE.' MATTHEW 6:10
We're gonna dig out a bit of history today. A couple of hundred years ago, before the British and the French imposed national boundaries on Southeast Asia, the kings of Laos and Vietnam already had an agreement about who was Laotian and who was Vietnamese. Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts and decorated their homes with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. Those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground and decorated their homes with Chinese-style dragons were Vietnamese.
The kings taxed the people accordingly so they had no need for boundaries. It was simple; each person belonged to the kingdom whose values they shared and whose king they honoured! Understand this: you can only live by the values of one of two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.
Which have you chosen? Each time you choose God's way in your life the kingdom of God comes into the world through you. When you live out His values the prayer Jesus taught us is answered, 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' So how do citizens of God's nation act? Jesus says
a) they aren't big-headed
b) they live by God's priorities
c) they're hungry and thirsty for more of God
d) they show compassion to others
e) they have a pure heart f) they are peacemakers
g) they stay positive, even in hard times
h) they know their reward is waiting for them (Matthew 5:3-12).
What the world knows about the nation of God is what is displayed in our lives! That's a big responsibility!
written by Bob Gass
'THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE.' MATTHEW 6:10
We're gonna dig out a bit of history today. A couple of hundred years ago, before the British and the French imposed national boundaries on Southeast Asia, the kings of Laos and Vietnam already had an agreement about who was Laotian and who was Vietnamese. Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts and decorated their homes with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. Those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground and decorated their homes with Chinese-style dragons were Vietnamese.
The kings taxed the people accordingly so they had no need for boundaries. It was simple; each person belonged to the kingdom whose values they shared and whose king they honoured! Understand this: you can only live by the values of one of two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.
Which have you chosen? Each time you choose God's way in your life the kingdom of God comes into the world through you. When you live out His values the prayer Jesus taught us is answered, 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' So how do citizens of God's nation act? Jesus says
a) they aren't big-headed
b) they live by God's priorities
c) they're hungry and thirsty for more of God
d) they show compassion to others
e) they have a pure heart f) they are peacemakers
g) they stay positive, even in hard times
h) they know their reward is waiting for them (Matthew 5:3-12).
What the world knows about the nation of God is what is displayed in our lives! That's a big responsibility!
written by Bob Gass
