LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD DECEMBER 14, 2023

 LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD DECEMBER 14, 2023

Greetings and blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

As we contemplate the times in which we live and the conditions of the world, let us re-visit a word from God given through Frederick Madison Smith in 1940. It is Doctrine and Covenants 138:3

3a Let the church again be admonished that the task of establishing Zion presses heavily upon us.
3b Barriers and hindrances to the achievement of this goal should be removed as speedily as possible and practicable. 3c To lay securely the foundations for Zion and her buildings, the work should be accomplished in peace and harmony. Unity should prevail. 3d To this end, all the Saints should work together in the rich fraternity which can and will prevail among them when they keep faithfully the commandments. 3e Great blessings are in store for the church if it will in faith and saintly devotion go forward in its tasks.

Notice the use of the words “again” and “admonish.” We can be thankful that we serve a God of great love and who possess a great amount of patience and long-suffering. How often does God speak to man using the words, again and admonish? More than we want to admit. It can be said that because we are so slow to hear and heed God’s word that we, as parents, have trained our children to be slow to obey. I am sure you have been around when a parent says to their child, “I’m going to count to three.” Then how do they count to three? 1,2,3? NO! It is usually 1,2, 2 and a forth, 2 and a half, 2 and three fourths, etc. If we get upset when our children do not respond quickly, it should be no surprise that God must admonish us again, again and again.

To admonish is to “Warn or reprimand someone firmly, to advise or urge someone earnestly, to put in mind or caution.” God was/is warning, urging, and cautioning us that the task of establishing Zion PRESSES HEAVILY upon us. When something is pressing heavily upon us it means the time to act is NOW. In 1940 World War II was taking place. What is taking place now that demands the building up of His Kingdom and the establishing of His Righteousness? All the signs of the time are happening in the world now and will likely escalate in 2024.

The Apostle Paul uses the word “admonish” in Romans 15:14, I Thessalonians 5:12, and II Thessalonians 3:15. In Omni 1:23 it says, “And they were admonished continually by the word of God … “ How many times did the Israelites refuse to heed God’s word to them? What was the result? Hard times, destruction, wars, captivity, and so forth. Are we any different? It doesn’t seem that we are.

We must realize that we are living in God’s Kingdom and not a kingdom of our own making. To live in His Kingdom is to not only hear God speak, but to respond with all haste. As one hymn says, in admonition, “Work for the night is coming, when man’s work is done, when man works no more, when man’s work is over.

God bless you as you live and work in HIS KINGDOM.

Paul Gage