Day 11 - Thy Kingdom Come

Do I fully understand what the kingdom of God is or more frankly what it is not? Am I a part of that kingdom or a servant in that kingdom? Luke 4:43 - "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God...for I was sent for this purpose." Like I mentioned on Wednesday evening we are praying that God would bring about a clean sweep, that his kingdom would come and he would be the Lord of all.

The fact that Jesus would use ordinary things to speak a plain message should turn our ears on and perk up our souls. I remember having to tweak my preaching not because rural folks are small minded and cannot bear the thick muck of complex preaching. Rather the opposite. I would do the Gospel a huge disservice if I failed to connect to the farmers and day laborers in their langauge and context. Jesus may use mustard seeds, I use Ole and Lena, stories about combining corn, and an occasional humility lesson.

The kingdom of God is truly a treasure hidden in the field. It is a pearl of great worth. The unexpected check in the mail. We can be surprised by God's grace again - really.

What would it be like to live with great joy and single minded devotion in my life? Sometimes I am a master of the Lutheran drudge - smiling so loud my neighbor can see - walking with my head down running into the wall because I am too busy looking at my shoes. Mr. Gloom and doom here.

If the kingdom of God has come and is all around us - that God is active in his coming to clean up the mess we humans have caused and he does this through his children. This is God's grace, amazing isn't it?

Happy journey beloved in the Lord.

Pastor Kris