Seeking the Kingdom
of God (7)
By T. M.
Moore Published Date: November 04, 2012
But that is not the way you
learned Christ – assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in
him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self…and to be renewed in
the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the
likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:20-24
Christians are called to seek the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness as their highest priority in life. The
Kingdom of God itself is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, as
we have seen (Rom. 14:17, 18). It makes sense, therefore, to believe that
wherever we are laying aside the ways of the world and putting on the
righteousness of Jesus Christ, there the Kingdom of God is being found and is
advancing.
This process is called,
“sanctification,” and it is a work of grace in us by God, Who, using His Word
and Spirit, works within and through us to make us increasingly fit for His
Kingdom. Sanctification and growth in the Kingdom is all of grace; it is a
wondrous work of our loving Father. But while this is a work of God, it’s one
that we must engage as well, “working out our salvation”, as Paul put it
(Phil. 2:12) in fear and trembling before the Lord.
The harder we work at this, in
every area of our lives, the more we find that our outlook, thought life,
attitudes, priorities, and practices begin to reflect the very character of
Jesus. Through sanctification we are actually “putting on Jesus” and, as we
become more like Him – as He increases in us and our old self decreases (Jn.
3:30) – we reflect more the reality of the Kingdom of God to the watching
world. What, then, does the process of sanctification involve on our parts?
Put another way, what must we make careful to attend to each day, so that
God, Who is at work within us, can shape and transform us into children fit
for His Kingdom?
Sanctification begins in the Word
of God, where, through reading, meditation, and study, we submit our minds to
be formed by the worldview of Scripture, open our hearts to the searching
scrutiny of the Spirit, and dedicate our consciences to following the Lord’s
agenda rather than our own. If we will not make reading and study of God’s
Word the bulwark and launch pad of each day, then how shall we expect the
power of that Word to do its work in or through us?
Sanctification also involves being
silent before the Lord, praying earnestly, but also listening for Him to
prompt us to action, disclose any previously hidden sin, or guide us in
specific paths of repentance and renewal. This waiting on the Lord in prayer,
staying silent before Him, is very hard to do. But we will have a hard time
hearing the “marching orders” of our King if, in our time together, we’re
always jabbering on about what matters to us.
Further reading and study from
Christian writers of the past and present can also help us to learn what the
righteousness of Jesus requires in our families and marriages, the
stewardship of our treasure, our lives at work, in a community, and as
citizens of this nation. Reading and study take time, time we’ll have to
plunder from some other activity in our lives – such as watching too much
television. TV, while not entirely without value, won’t contribute much
toward fitting us for service in the Kingdom of God. And if we are going to
take up the task of seeking that Kingdom, then some of these familiar
hindrances will have to go.
Seeking
the Kingdom of God is serious business. But it’s also extremely rewarding,
immensely satisfying, and wholly exhilarating to know that God Himself – even
our King, Jesus Christ – is at work within us, willing and doing of His good
pleasure (Phil. 2:13) and advancing His Kingdom of earth, as it is in heaven.
For the daily devotional from T.M. Moore, visit: www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/columns/viewpoint
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Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Working Out Our Salvation...
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Goodmorning guys! Thank you for posting this. "Putting on Jesus" reminded me of something I read in Mere Christianity. If you guys have time, read Chapter 8 - "Is Christianity Hard or Easy"? I think it parallels what you posted here and sums up exactly what we've been talking about all week. I think what you said a few days ago is exactly right...we are comparing apples to broccoli.
ReplyDeleteI (Karyn) really enjoyed this entire read it is nice to read God's word and reflect on what we forget to do at times or lack the discipline, which is exactly where I fall short all the time. After the message on Sunday I really feel a weight has been lifted and that I am willing and ready to walk with Jesus closely, and to listen for His direction.. Am I nervous a little that I will screw up, sure am, but knowing even when I am a "mess" as Pastor Daniel put it Jesus meets us right where we are and loves us anyways.
ReplyDeleteI know you both have been super busy this past weekend, but looking forward to getting back into the blog this week. Love you both...