LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD DECEMBER 4, 2025
Beloved Saints of the Most High God,
Greetings and “MERRY CHRISTMAS” all month long.
As many will say, “This the best time of the year!” But
then, as long as we walk with Jesus, as my yard sign says, “JESUS IS THE REASON
FOR THE SEASON!” Of course, we all know that Jesus is the reason for every
season, because without Him, there is no need for any season.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone accepted Jesus as
their Savior instead of continual debates about when He was born? What a
fantastic world we would live in if everyone would love as Jesus loved, even
being willing to give our life for the cause of the Kingdom! Let each of us
live such a life every day so as to reflect that love that Jesus shared with
everyone. That is the only kind of love that will find place in Zion/Celestial
Glory, so it must find place in our lives now.
As we all know, Christmas is different in various parts
of the world, even in some parts of the same country. But the significance of
Christmas is, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only
Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” John3 :16.
I’m sure everyone has their favorite Christmas scripture,
hymn, poem, story etc. I will share some of my favorites today, especially as
they apply to living in the Kingdom of God.
Scripture: Third Nephi 1:1-15, particularly verse
13, “And on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world
that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of
my holy prophets.” You can read and know what was happening, but WOW!
Jesus spoke to Nephi the night before he was born. A true miracle indeed. Jesus
wants to speak to us every day. Perhaps I, we, need to learn to cry mightily to
our God all day and night.
Hymn: I especially like “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
verse four. “O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter
in, Be born in us today. We hear the
Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell; O come to
us, abide with us, OUR LORD, IMMANUEL! All through our daily
living in the Kingdom, if Jesus is not working within us, can we truthfully say
we are living in the Kingdom? Keep in mind that this coming Sunday is The
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Story: Many years ago I found a story called, “Trouble at
the Inn.” A church was doing the Christmas story and a young man about ten
years old, who was a little shy, but good size was chosen to be the Innkeeper.
You know, the one who had to tell Joseph there was NO room in the inn. When it
came to that point in the play, after he had softy told Joseph there was no
room and Joseph started to leave, he called out, in a strong voice, “Come back,
Joseph, YOU CAN HAVE MY ROOM!” Needless to say, the church and the
community were changed forever. So, in our daily walk, are we willing to share
everything we have with Jesus? He doesn’t want our room, but does ask us to
give Him our hearts.
The Inspired Version in Luke 2:7 uses the words “inns.”
All others say, “inn.” Does it matter?
Poem: As you know, most, if not all, hymns are poems.
Hymn 105 in “Hymns of the Restoration,” “When Jesus, Our Great Master Came,”
was used as we prepared for prayer service last night at Waldo Avenue RB. I
think it is appropriate for our living in the Kingdom.
When Jesus, our great Master, came to teach us in his
Father’s name,
In every act, in every thought, He lived the precepts
which he taught.
So let our lips and lives express The Holy Gospel we
profess;
So let our works and virtues shine To prove the doctrine
all divine.
A virtue is a very high level of morality. Doctrine and
Covenants 38:5c and 46:9b instruct us to practice virtue and holiness before
Him and continually.
God bless
Paul Gage
