I cannot just sit through my class today and go about life without sharing what God has brought to our table. If I could, I would fill every website with the beauty of this lesson.
Do you know that the Kingdom of heaven is talked about by Jesus more than anything else in the Bible? I used to think it was something like sin, love, heaven, or faith. Faith comes in 2nd with Jesus mentioning it 95 times. But the Kingdom is brought up 117 times. That, hoapili, is truly significant. I only wish I could share with you all that was revealed. But lo, its content is too lengthy.
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN/ GOD? It is every place where the WILL of God is being done. That is founded in The Lord's Prayer. "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done." But- The will of God for the future is not for us to know. If we long to know it, it would be a crystal ball we would need (John Piper). BUT- we do know the Lord's will IS a beautiful story, meant to be told to the world. Why do we long to go to AMC and see Avatar or Inception? (I don't know the latest shows out ;). We naturally yearn for a story: a story with good overcoming evil and relationships restored (like God wants for His kingdom!). And...most of the time there is a 'hero.' Superman anyone?
WHY do we like stories? Life is a story! Created by God, and He has the most beautiful ending to the most glorious story. The world is longing, searching for a better story, and we have that to share! We have the Kingdom of God to share, and though evil came and intruded on His perfect plan, our Daddy fights for us gracefully. What a story of hope and healing for these people. For us! He asks us: who will go? To Africa, downtown Tallahassee, wherever! Send US Lord! But teach us to show them with grace and love, inviting them to eat with us like you did to the sinners.
It is hot here, turning off the computer might make it cooler. Goodnight Tallahassee, East Coast.
