What does living for the Kingdom of God look like? Are the decisions that we make about building the Kingdom of God? Do we consider how we live to be part of building the Kingdom?
Here’s what I am learning: “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14: 17)
- If being approved by men is important to us, then live for God, He’ll approve and so will mankind.
How do we build the Kingdom? Our character aids in this building:
- Do not put a stumbling block in our brother’s way.
- Make every effort to do what leads to peace and natural edification.
- Do not do anything that will cause your brother to fall. (Shared from Romans 14, Paraphrased)
Building the Kingdom requires strength.
- Praising gives us strength. “Praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69: 30)
- Remember the Lord hears the needy ones and does not despise his captive people.
- God will save and rebuild, through us. (Shared from Psalm 69, Paraphrased)
Saul’s building his own kingdom and certainly not willing to give it up. He follows David with his three thousand men. David gets word of it and goes to see where Saul is. He takes with him Abishai and finds Saul with his men all fast asleep in their camp. David gets close enough and sees his spear stuck in the ground near his head.
Again, God delivered his enemy into David’s hands, but David responded as in the past, saying, “Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? (1 Samuel 26: 9)
- A man whose heart follows after God is a man of integrity.
David sneaks up quietly and takes his spear along with his water jug and heads back to his camp. No one saw or heard David while he was there. That had to be God quieting that camp. There were three thousand men around him. Not one heard David scouting around.
David leaves and crosses over to the other side and looks down from the hill into Saul’s camp. He yells over asking where Saul’s spear is? Saul recognizes his voice and David says, “Why are you still pursuing me? What have I done, what wrong am I guilty of? (1 Samuel 26: 18)
Saul confesses his sin and declares to David, “May you be blessed, my son, David, you will do great things and surely triumph.” (1 Samuel 26: 25)
Building the Kingdom of God requires the Lord’s strength and vigor. His love and character are within His children. Carry and walk Him out, as we demonstrate our faith and commitment to Him.
Learn to become like little children, trusting our Daddy God, for “The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18: 16) It’s not only ours, it’s within us! Childlike faith pleases our God. This aids us in our building. (Shared from 1 Samuel 26, Paraphrased)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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