"The Kingdom of God is simply the place where God's will is being done." John Mark Comer - Solid Rock
Living for Jesus and allowing His kingdom to reign in my heart and mind was never something I could accomplish on my own. Neither is this something God does alone. Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John XV:5
What fruit do we bear?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians V:22-23a
Loving those who love us is easy, loving our enemies is hard. Being happy is not difficult, having joy in all circumstances and trials comes from God. We don't white knuckle our way through life struggling for self control, that eventually fails. Neither can we produce true patience by clamping our teeth together and smiling. We can pretend that we're good, but wholesome goodness only comes from Jesus.
But I will often, and stupidly so, try to produce good fruit by my own strength. And the result? Ugliness. I don't suppose anyone can truly be a desciple of Messiah if they never read about Him. I mean the four gospels, the only authorataive writing on the life, ministry, death and ressurection of Jesus Christ. But to be honest I can't remember the last time i sat down and read one of them from beginning to end without interuption. That needs to change.
As I look back at 2010 I see a life that was for the most part me expanding my kingdom and living for Jason. I don't want to see this in 2011, I want this year to be a year marked by humility and submission to Jesus Christ and obedience to His word through daily devotion. I want to see His kingdom, where His will is done, in my life.
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew VI:9-13
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