From: Paul Gage
LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 26, 2023
As January is speeding past, how is your New Year in the Kingdom going? We know that God is always true to His promises, as we sing, “Standing on the promises of Christ, my King.” He, in turn, expects us to stand firm in our covenant and commitment to Him. This, of course, requires our daily attention to our commitment to our Lord and Savior.
We all are faced every day, perhaps many times, by people, things, etc. that knowingly or unknowingly attempt to get us off the promises of God and onto or into something less. Every day becomes a new opportunity for us to experience living in the Kingdom of God. Every thing we do, think or say is an indication of how Kingdom living is going for us.
Many people do not make a connection with the temporal and spiritual aspects of life, but if the body and the spirit make up the soul of man (DC 85:3-5) then Jesus points this out in Matthew 5:23-26
23 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time that thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God. 24 But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, or Rabcha, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. 25 Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, or if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, 26 Leave thou thy gift before the altar, and go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Jesus is telling us that living in the Kingdom requires submitting all aspects of our lives to Him. We cannot just go to church and be “friendly” with others while harboring ill will in our heart and mind. We cannot just “pretend to be living in the Kingdom,” we must live in accordance with the laws of the King.
We hear so much about preparation and being ready for the Lord’s return that maybe, at times, we, as the old saying states, “Let it go in one ear and out the other.” This can be a fatal mistake, temporally and spiritually.
There are many hymns, songs, stories and poems that remind us of how we should be living our lives. One of these is hymn 450 in “Hymns of the Restoration” 2007 Edition. We do not know who wrote this hymn of challenge and encouragement, but we can be certain that it is one of
God’s messages for us today.
“Are you ready, O my people,
to have Zion of this day?
Serve your God with all your being,
live the Savior’s glorious way!
Hold back nothing from my service,
Let your all be known as mine!
Rich rewards will compensate you,
For My Kingdom shall be thine.
Show you are ready, O my people,
To have Zion of this day;
Serve your God with all your being,
LIVE the Savior’s glorious way."
God bless and guide you each day,
Paul Gage
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