THE KINGDOM

“To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God…” (Mark 4:11)

As we continue our series The Prayer of Jesus, we’re reminded this week of importance and priority that God’s kingdom needs to take in our lives. I’m reminded of a song by Christian musician Michael Card that speaks of the paradoxical nature of that kingdom…

“So near and yet still so far, far away

So close, and yet still to come
Concealed, the seed is mysteriously growing
In hearts that will listen and hear
A treasure that's hidden, a pearl of great price
A fortune for fools who believe

(CHORUS:)

A kingdom of beauty, a kingdom of love

A kingdom of justice of justice and peace
A kingdom that holds all the wilds of creation
A kingdom where children will lead

For now this kingdom's a land of the lowly

A place for the tired, plundered poor
Now our gentle King comes in peace on a donkey
But then on a charger for war
A battle in heaven, a war on the earth
To shatter the long darkened siege

(CHORUS)

Not by our own strength

And not by power of might
But by His Spirit it comes
Blinded eyes will see
And deafened ears will hear
The praise from the lips of the dumb”

(CHORUS)

[--Michael Card, “The Kingdom”, from his album The Word: Recapturing The Imagination (1992)]

May the mystery and beauty of the kingdom of God grow more and more within each of us as we seek to follow him!  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!