But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matt 6:33 (NIV)

PART 1 – Kingdom Seeking

Jesus made this statement in the middle of his “Sermon on the Mount.” At this time in history, the socio-political climate was nuts! The Jewish people were living under Roman occupation and tensions were high. Different cultures, different belief systems… they were prisoners in their own homes and towns. Forced to pay taxes to Ceasar and integrate Roman culture into their ancient and sacred traditions. The atmosphere was loaded with loathing from both sides. The Roman soldiers stood at attention while zealous Jews whispered of rebellion and salvation in dark corners. The whole country was waiting for a Saviour. The Messiah, who would lead the charge, raise his sword, defeat the Roman army, set his people free and establish them as the most powerful people group in the known world.

Who would rise up against a tribe with a God as powerful as theirs?

What would you do if faced with these circumstances? I have two small children and I dream of who they'll be and what they'll do with their lives and freedom. I can’t imagine what I would think of doing if that freedom was threatened or taken. I would want to break free, overcome the oppressors, and rise up victorious. Wouldn’t we all?

But here was the Messiah, the promised one, their Saviour… no sword in hand, no political flag raised at any of his unsponsored events… speaking of a different kind of freedom.

Many hoped that Jesus would establish a physical Kingdom where they could live and worship freely and according to scripture. But the Kingdom Jesus spoke of was not physical or tangible. It had no geographic location or stone buildings. It’s a kingdom that dwells within us no matter who we are, where we are and what state we’re in.

This idea was revolutionary and completely contrary to what many were looking for. Living in bondage is not OK. We need to stand against tyranny and evil in our world and protect the freedoms and rights of others, especially the vulnerable. Establish peace and unity. But Jesus knew (knows) that violence begets violence and the only way to bring goodness into a land of heartache was through love, not more pain. To have peace on the surface, there needs to be peace underneath and within.

He was asking people to resist the urge for more hatred and division. To love their enemies, to pray and not fight. To give willingly without holding back. Not to worry about their physical needs and chase certainty, but to have faith. To BE peace and not just wait for it to happen. He was permeating a broken world and kingdom with love and grace… a secret weapon of sorts. The Kingdom of heaven doesn’t dominate but illuminates. It's a light in the dark. The kind of kingdom we should seek with our whole heart…

Go to PART 2 – Seek God »
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