Tag Archives: God’s Kingdom

04/29/13

For Love of the King

For Love of the King by Daniel Kolenda

 

God is not looking for spiritual “gold diggers” who use Him and His kingdom to get rich, or to become popular or powerful. On the contrary, God is looking for people whose eyes are so fastened on Him and Him alone that none of the peripheral attractions are even in view. It is those with consecrated hearts to whom He says, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything else you need.”

 

Although seeking God’s kingdom first will give us fulfillment and purpose in life, we do not seek God’s kingdom primarily for the sake of becoming self-actualized or having a sense of accomplishment. It’s true that as we seek God’s kingdom, our material and financial needs will be met, but we do not seek God’s kingdom primarily because of the monetary benefits. It is obvious that seeking God’s kingdom results in eternal rewards that are very literally “out of this world.” But we do not seek God’s kingdom primarily to win an eternal prize. We do not seek the kingdom because we love its benefits – we seek the kingdom because we love its King! When our love for the King becomes our paramount incentive, then and only then do we have things in the right order.

 

Building the kingdom of God must be our primary objective in life, but the underlying motivation must be love for the King. The only way a person can be truly committed to the kingdom of God is to be consumed with love for Christ. If we are driven by a philosophy or an ideology, a desire to make the world a better place or to see a new order established, then our ambition falls into the same category as communism, Marxism, socialism, and all the other “-isms.” Seeking the kingdom of God is in a category all by itself because it stems from a fountain deeper than any motive in this world – divine, supernatural love of the King. This love is the foundation and the driving force behind the kingdom that will endure long after all others have crumbled to dust.

 

Excerpted from Live Before You Die by Daniel Kolenda. Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Kolenda. Published by Passio (Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group.) Used by permission

 

Charlene’s Source: LifeToday

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11/15/11

Psalm 8: A Psalm Of David

Republished January 2, 2012

 

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b]

 A Psalm of David.

1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]

5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes:
a.Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
b.Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
c.Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
d.Psalm 8:5 Or him
e.Psalm 8:5 Or than God
f.Psalm 8:5 Or him
g.Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his

Psalm 8 is a Psalm of Inquiry. David is contemplating the nature and work of GOD.

 “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, and human beings that you  visit them…”  ?

David is asking “Why am I here, LORD, and what is the purpose in my relationship with you”? 

 Haven’t we all asked this question at many times in our lives? It is astonishing to us that, we, as mere sinful mortals, have the attention of the Triune GOD. We have a Father in Heaven who looks down upon his children and sees each one as the creation he ordained into being. We are all here for a specific purpose because GOD sees us as equals in His sight. We have all been preordained to perform a work in Him that will draw others unto Him. No one is more important than the other, and each of us has to seek out our personal place in His ministry.

I’m learning as time goes on to concentrate my energies into fewer projects. To spread my Godly gifts more discreetly. This does not mean that I turn my back on those things that have gone before–it means that I embrace new possibilities while gradually passing the baton to others to guide ministries in which I am presently engaged. The word ‘gradually’ is employed here because stewardship demands that we keep our responsibilities until others are fully able to assume them.

David said “You have made them a little lower than the angels, and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the work of your hands, you put everything under their feet… ”  Why would GOD place us in such a position in Him?

There is a trust that exists between a committed believer and Christ.  We engage in a covenant relationship with Him, God’s Holy Spirit, and GOD the Father. This relationship is what fuels our abilities, our heart committments, and our purpose here on earth. We knew GOD before we were “formed in the belly”, and our connection to Him is not severed at birth but diverted until we learn to conquer he of this world through Jesus our LORD. “You, dear children, are from GOD and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” !    John 4:4 NIV

God has made us to be His hands, His voice, His feet, and His heart here on earth. We have been given a ‘trust’ in Him to guard, keep, and distribute wisely. Everything that is GOD’s is ours–therefore we are to keep His WORD, His world, His work, His church, and His people from all harm and danger. Can we do this alone? No we cannot. We must work together through GOD’s Holy Spirit to perform the works of Christ in all humility and diligence, establishing His Kingdom here on earth, and seeking the reward of Heaven. Does that mean that we do, or give, to get? No–it means that we do to give and allow GOD to determine the reward. Keep in mind that GOD is justice–therefore when we turn our backs on His WORD,  His world, His work, His church, and His people He will establish a just reward here also.

The Psalmist gives GOD praise. We  should all praise the King of Kings and LORD of LORDS for it is He who gives us life, breath, and hope for this world and beyond.  PRAISE YE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH!!

Rev. Charlene

All Scripture Quotes are from the New International Version of the Bible@  www.biblegateway.com