It’s So Simple

Kingdom, Power & Glory

Part Eleven

For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever and ever, amen.

I’ve really struggled to finish this series and I’m not sure why. But I’m determined to complete so here it is. As an American it’s sometimes hard to understand a Kingdom. Since 1776 we have lived as free men and women without a sovereign ruler. Having said that, I don’t have first hand knowledge of being ruled. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had parents and bosses and teachers that I’ve had to submit to, but I don’t think that’s the same as having a Queen or King that I’ve had to bow before. So what is God’s Kingdom? According to Romans 14:17 (NIV) 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness, that’s a hard one. I try to live my life with righteousness but in today’s world it’s challenging. I’m being assaulted from all sides. Watching TV for more than ten minutes will show dozens of ways to undermine another so as to get the upper hand in any situation. It doesn’t matter if it’s righteous or not as long as victory is mine. I don’t think that’s what Jesus would do.

Peace, now that’s really challenging today. The world has turned upside down. I’m reminded of the scripture from Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” Anytime God starts a sentence with “Woe” I know there is trouble.

Joy, hmmm, I’m generally a happy sort of person but I believe that joy is something more. According to the dictionary joy means: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. Yeah, I’d say that’s not what I usually feel. Although I know that I have felt that on occasion, but I sure don’t live there.

Power and Glory are self-explanatory. God is all-powerful and deserving of all glory. I must admit that sometimes it is easy to believe that I have the power therefore the glory. But soon I’m reminded of the truth and recognize how little power I have, how little control I have over anything and I definitely don’t deserve any glory. When this happens, I begin to feel the peace and joy of God’s kingdom. This gives me the strength to live righteously. As I have been saying for some time now, it really is so simple. Amen!