LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD JANUARY 4, 2024

Greetings to God’s Saints in every little corner of the world, Be ye glad and rejoice! God knows very well where you are and what you deal with every moment of the day. What a most comforting thought as we are now into a new year. New to us, but not to God. Though sometimes we “might” boldly go where man has never gone, God is already there, waiting for us. Many will remember all the concern, worry, etc as we were approaching Y2K, 24 years ago. Mankind was troubled, with great concern and many in fear and panic because the world wasn’t sure as to how things would transcend. God knew. Why don’t we just trust Him in all situations? Since God have man his agency, it is has been a struggle of “our will” versus “God’s will.” Since Jesus taught us to pray, “THY Kingdom come, THY, will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Why do we continue to insist on living in our kingdom? There are many prayers, stories, poems, hymns that I could include today, but want to refer to a few vital scriptures that we sometimes may have a tendency to overlook or just ignore. First, take time to read Genesis 1-6 in the Inspired Version to be reminded of creation and God’s first dealings with mankind in the beginning of this earth. Then go to Matthew 4:1-10 (Also the Inspired Version) for the encounter between Jesus and our enemy who is referred to by three names, the tempter, the devil and satan. No matter the name, his aim is the same...to lead us away from God. Then Jesus speaking in Matthew 6:38 (IV) “...but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness…” The kingdom must be in effect if we are to “build it up.” We are to establish His righteousness not our own or that of the world. In 2024, may we each be much more diligent in building up God’s kingdom on the earth. It is the only hope of the world. In our daily lives, may we keep fresh in our minds and hearts the hymn, “Look for the beautiful, look for the true, Think of the beautiful, think of the true, Talk of the beautiful, talk of the true, Live for the beautiful, live for the true.” Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. God Bless Paul Gage