Tag Archives: Kingdom

Tears, an Empty City, and a New Kingdom

I finished Jeremiah and hit Lamentations today.  To say that my time reading scripture is discouraging is an understatement.  With this chronological reading plan, I am immersed in the story of Israel’s downfall.  I have been for weeks and weeks.  It makes it so tough to read the scripture.  This reading plan needs to come with some anti-depressants or something.

But, as I read it, I’m beginning to realize on a small scale, what a heartbreak it was for the people to lose their land, their place.  Everything was tied up in it.  Even in the Scriptures, the writers are focused on getting back to the land.  ”Stop sinning so that we can go home” is the cry of the authors.  They want to be back in Israel, in Jerusalem, so desperately.  The city of Jerusalem has a personality, it cries, it moans, it misses it’s people.  The personification of the city runs deep in their understanding.  It’s something I have trouble relating to.

But it causes me to wonder what it is that I am that attached to?  It’s not the United States for me, or my house, or city.  But my comfort would be something close.  I’ll follow, as long as it isn’t an inconvenience.  Or my job.  I’m good with following God, unless he asks me to be homeless and not be a pastor anymore.  Or my schedule.  When God wants to obliterate my schedule, I get a little sideways with Him.

So, while I obsess over different things, I still obsess.  I allow things to come between me and God, to get in the way, to distract me.  They become my Jerusalem, my kingdom.

So, again, I fall back on this prayer:

Our Father, who is in heaven,
Holy is your name,
Your Kingdom come
Your Will be done
On earth, like it’s done in Heaven.
Give me today what I need,
And forgive me for all of my sins,
And I forgive those who have sinned against me.
Don’t lead me into temptation
But deliver me from evil.

His kingdom.  Here.  Today.  Not my Jerusalem.  His kingdom.

A Tale of Two Kings


John the Baptist is beheaded. Jesus feeds the five thousand. Why are these stories back to back in Matthew 14?

You’ve got Herod, ruler by force, living in fear. He makes a rash promise in a setting he should never be in to a girl he shouldn’t be around. His power and authority have went to his head, and so John loses his. Herod is a hated king who has everything he could want, and is completely unhappy and afraid. He’s so paranoid that He claims Jesus is John reincarnated, even though Jesus and John were the same age. His power corrupts.

You’ve got Jesus, ruler by God’s decree, living in compassion. He sees people hurting, and in the midst of His own pain, He serves them and heals them. His disciples show care for the people, and Jesus gives out of His own heart, allows God to use Him, and feeds them all more than they can eat. Jesus is a misunderstood king who gave up everything, to come serve in love and courage. He knows Who He is and Whose He is. His power transforms.

You and I are offered a taste of both powers. We have money, people, and toys that can try to satisfy any desire we have. We can create kingdoms around us that rival Herod’s, and we live with so many resources that each of us can truly create our own kingdom. (You don’t think you are better off than a king in Biblical times? Did he have air conditioning, running water, a refrigerator, Internet, or a microwave? He would have paid royally for any one of those items. We are living in our own personal kingdoms today.) But if we live for this power, build these kingdoms, we end up in the same place as Herod; delusional, paranoid, and unhappy.

We can also choose the other Kingdom, the other Power. Christ still offers the same compassion and love to us that He offered them. Now, He gets to be King, not us. But the rewards are amazing. We are loved, cared for, healed, and fed.

Which Kingdom will you live in today? It’s a daily choice.

Moving On


We are in the middle of moving. We finished cleaning out our old house last night, and turn the keys over today. It’s so funny how we can get attached to a building. We’ve lived there for four years, and it has been my favorite house that we’ve owned up until now. The neighbors are excellent, the best we’ve ever had. We loved the neighborhood, and the house fit us well.

I think about how God tells us that this world isn’t our home, and we shouldn’t get too overly attached, that we will move out one day. I don’t manage that well. I get very attached, and invest inordinate amounts of energy and time into trying to establish my own kingdom. But this weekend reminded me that one day, I’ll pack my bags and leave this place. Done. Finished here. Moving on.

And I think about our new house. It’s not heaven, but we are blessed beyond words to have it. I am so grateful for it, and know from experience that soon we won’t miss our old place at all. I knew this going in, and it is what kept me going through some rough waters in the sales process. It would all be worth it. I could do anything, knowing it would be worth it at the end.

So too will come that day when, as much as I love my little kingdom here, I’ll move on, and not look back.
And it will be worth it. His Kingdom there is much better than mine here.

So, for today, I will once again pray that ancient prayer; “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth like it is in heaven.” I want to begin letting go now, embracing His Rule today. I’m gonna pack boxes, and live like I’m moving. It will all be worth it. It always is.