God’s plan from the beginning always included re-winning His creation and re-introducing His Kingdom. God knew we would question Him & His intentions (His way versus our own). He knew we would attempt to exclude Him (the Designer & Creator of the world we live in) and decide instead to explore His world & everything in it on our own.
What’d God do? He let us wander and explore even though He knew we’d be making a horrific mess of things. And while we pursued and designed our own way of "doing life," He was already working out His plan to bring rescue and saving so that when we cried 'enough' or 'help' we could turn and see that He’s already done what was necessary to fix all that’s been left broken in our wake!
So, “at just the right time,” Jesus (God-in-flesh) enters His world with a message of hope, “the Kingdom of God is at hand!” (Mt. 4:17)
To those who have been waiting and longing (“mourning & poor in spirit” – Mt. 5:3-4), this is great news! They had been waiting for the day when God would return to rescue His people and to set up His reign. And it is to these people that Jesus says, “the wait is over, the time is now! The Kingdom of God is at hand and it belongs to all those who recognize and admit their need for Him!"
That’s how Jesus’ teaching begins (that beautifully crafted “sermon” that starts with what has come to be known as “the Beattitudes”). And we, for the first time, begin to see just how far we’ve wandered as we realize that Jesus’ life and teaching are counterintuitive to the life we’ve created for ourselves. God’s way of life is defined by humility and meekness (Mt. 5:5-7). It’s a life that is passionate for justice and peace, that serves others and prays for our persecutors (Mt. 5:9-10). And only when we quiet ourselves and tune in, instead, to that still small voice can we hear the affirming words, “yes, THIS is what has been missing! THIS has been the way all along!”
Welcome to life turned right-side-up, friends! :)
What’d God do? He let us wander and explore even though He knew we’d be making a horrific mess of things. And while we pursued and designed our own way of "doing life," He was already working out His plan to bring rescue and saving so that when we cried 'enough' or 'help' we could turn and see that He’s already done what was necessary to fix all that’s been left broken in our wake!
So, “at just the right time,” Jesus (God-in-flesh) enters His world with a message of hope, “the Kingdom of God is at hand!” (Mt. 4:17)
To those who have been waiting and longing (“mourning & poor in spirit” – Mt. 5:3-4), this is great news! They had been waiting for the day when God would return to rescue His people and to set up His reign. And it is to these people that Jesus says, “the wait is over, the time is now! The Kingdom of God is at hand and it belongs to all those who recognize and admit their need for Him!"
That’s how Jesus’ teaching begins (that beautifully crafted “sermon” that starts with what has come to be known as “the Beattitudes”). And we, for the first time, begin to see just how far we’ve wandered as we realize that Jesus’ life and teaching are counterintuitive to the life we’ve created for ourselves. God’s way of life is defined by humility and meekness (Mt. 5:5-7). It’s a life that is passionate for justice and peace, that serves others and prays for our persecutors (Mt. 5:9-10). And only when we quiet ourselves and tune in, instead, to that still small voice can we hear the affirming words, “yes, THIS is what has been missing! THIS has been the way all along!”
Welcome to life turned right-side-up, friends! :)
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