by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco, Jr.
By true faith in Jesus Christ we are now
citizens of heaven, or God’s kingdom (Phil. 3:20). We are now living in it. In
this reflection, we continue to learn more in detail the life-style in the
Kingdom. As was already noted in the previous reflection it is different from
the life of the ordinary unbelieving person. God has revealed the nature of
that life in and through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The life of Jesus
is the life-style in the Kingdom. What are the basic traits of the life in the
Kingdom?
Love. James calls this the royal law. “If
you keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’
you are doing right” (James 2:8). Jesus spelled this out in His entire ministry
by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and finally dying on the cross for
sinners (Rom. 5:8). We are to do the same because whatever loving deeds we do
for others we do it also to God (Mt. 25:40). So He commands us to love and
serve (Jn. 15:12).
Holiness.
The word holy is commonly used to ascribe a special honor to people who
have sacrificially and lovingly given their best to meet the material and
spiritual needs of others in the name of God. Such persons have been canonized
as saints in the church. In the Bible holy means set apart. The
Israelites were set apart by God to be His people and He called them “a holy
nation” for Himself (Exodus 19:6). In the New Testament Paul in his letters to
churches called common believers saints, that is holy, not because they were
less sinners, but because they belonged to Christ Jesus Christ by their faith. Paul
addresses the Christians in Corinth thus, “—to those sanctified in Christ Jesus
and called to be holy,”-- (1 Cor. 1:2). So, in the New Testament sense all of
us who truly believe in Christ belong to Him and are thus holy.
Righteousness. We are also set apart to
live a life of obedience to all God’s commands and to keep His covenant. “Now
if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be
my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). This would redound to righteous living.
On our part this requires an earnest learning of His words and applying them in
our lives. We must study the Bible, read Christian literatures and learn from other
Christians.
Deep devotion. In the kingdom we, His
subjects, must be intensely devoted to God the King. Jesus said, “My food—is to
do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (Jn. 4:34). Obeying and
serving God is as important as food. This is deep devotion. A lukewarm and
shallow commitment does not count for anything to Christ (Rev. 3:15-16). You
must really be serious.
In our human weakness, we are unable to live
the life in the kingdom. But we can pray the Holy Spirit to enable and empower
us, and we can attain it.
Prayer:
Loving Lord, thank you for welcoming us graciously into your
kingdom now as we believe in your Son. Thank you for the beautiful life you
bestow upon us when we enter your kingdom. In Jesus Christ
your Son we pray. Amen.
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