Kingdom Appeal

It’s funny (and by “funny” I mean “probably not that funny, actually”) but Jesus has a favorite subject… and most Christians honestly couldn’t tell you what it is.

That’s not a guilt thing. I didn’t really learn about it for the longest time. But the subject is the Kingdom of God.

What is it? Well, for starters, it’s everything. Jesus keeps explaining it to us.

He said the kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. A guy finds the treasure, then hides it again. Why? So, he can go sell everything and buy that field. He simply has to get the treasure (Matthew 13:44).

Or it’s like a pearl merchant who finds the pearl of a lifetime! He sells everything to get it.

The pearl merchant, the treasure-field guy—they’re not fools. Quite the opposite.

The kingdom is just too appealing, too poetic, too stunning. When you “get it”, the alternatives grow dingy in its light. If you truly know what’s life-and-death valuable, well, you just have to have it.

It’s always kind of baffled me when Jesus talks about the kingdom in Matthew and says “violent people” raid it. My understanding now is that He’s referring to an eagerness to have it; that some people will seize it. I’ve also heard it compared to the let-me-at-it eagerness cows have to be let into a fresh, new, green pasture after a long winter.

So yes, I can talk about the abuses and weirdness of religion and things done in the name of Jesus. But I’m not leaving Jesus or my brothers and sisters who seek Him. Why? I’ve seen the kingdom in action.

This gospel, this “good news” that the kingdom is now available to all of us? It’s too good to trade in for a sweet rush of very temporary freedom. Jesus makes too much sense. I have to trust someone—we all do—so, really: Who better than Jesus?

The kingdom is beyond beautiful. Shocking, even. And it’s breaking through, bit by bit. I want to be part of that. I don’t want to miss out. It’s freeing people and healing people even now, in the midst of all the awful stuff that’s happening. Simply put: It’s the best news ever.

Pray

God, please help me to see and understand with greater clarity how wonderfully valuable Your kingdom really is and deepen my awareness of and appreciation for its beauty.