From: paul gage
LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 5, 2023
New Year’s Greetings and best wishes to all the lovely Saints throughout the world,
If you are a “time watcher” you might be interested to know that we now have only 51 ½ weeks left in this year, which would translate to 360 days. Also, we are down to 21 months from the suggested two years in the Kirtland Message of September, 2022.
However, as per several scriptures, we still do not know the day nor the hour when Jesus Christ will return to the earth. Therefore it might behoove us to be alerted to our efforts of living in the Kingdom of God. Behoove means “It is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.”
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:38 ”Wherefore, seek not the things of this world, BUT seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
In sections 6, 10, 11, 12 of the Doctrine and Covenants we, as well as the individuals to whom these revelations were given are instructed to “Keep my commandments and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.”
James Christenson, in his book, “Zion In Our Time,” published in 1980, states: “The establishment of God’s Kingdom should be the major goal of true Christians everywhere, and no disciple should rest until this goal is accomplished. A unique doctrine of the restored Church of Jesus Christ is the methodology of building the Kingdom in these last days: the concept of Zion.”
F. Henry Edwards, in his book “Fundamentals” published in 1948, says: The church of Jesus Christ offers the world the vision and the goal of the Kingdom of God, in which men are brothers, because they are first of all the children of God. The machinery of the kingdom is ready to our hands.”
Do we treat others like they are children of God? What examples do our neighbors see in us? The Lord told us in Doctrine and Covenants 128,:8,. in 1909 through Joseph Smith III, SECTION 128 - Doctrine and Covenants. “The Spirit saith further: That these organizations contemplated in the law may be effected and the benefits to be derived therefrom be enjoyed by the Saints-in such enjoyment they cannot withdraw themselves so completely from a qualified dependence upon their Gentile neighbors surrounding them as to be entirely free from intercommunication with them; 8b yet it is incumbent upon the Saints, while reaping the benefits of these organizations, to so conduct themselves in the carrying into operation the details of their organizations as to be in the world but not of it, 8c living and acting honestly and honorably before God and in the sight of all men, using the things of this world in the manner designed of God, that the places where they occupy may shine as Zion, the redeemed of the Lord.”
It is possible for us, today, to live as if in Zion. Some say it can’t be done. In I Nephi 1:65 we find these words: “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father, I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded; for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
The Daily Devotional for January-April is available on the CRE website at eldersconference.org
God bless you in your Kingdom living efforts.
Paul Gage
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