Meditation

Meditation for 10/02/2019

“And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.” (2^nd Chronicles 13:8)

The earthly kingdom of David was the earthly Old Testament expression of the kingdom of the Lord. David was the Lord’s anointed, and his kingdom was God’s design. The new covenant ushered in new dimensions of God’s kingdom.

His kingdom is eternal and one day will be established in its fullness. During Old Testament periods the earthly kingdom was resisted. Today people continue to resist the spiritual one. Nonetheless, God’s kingdom is present and will come, regardless of those who resist. Those resisting, do not realize that they are risking so much more than the kingdom, but God Himself.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, each of us have to make the decision to accept You through Your Son Jesus Christ. I cannot make a decision for anyone else, I can only decide for myself. Those who resist may be ignorant of the Bible, or the gospel message of salvation, or have not had an encounter with the Risen Christ. Whatever the reason, Christians are charged with presenting people with both the Bible specifically the message of salvation and we can present the story of Mary & Joseph, the encounters with angels and dreams, the birth of the Son of Man, but they must make the decision themselves. Abba, put those who resist You in our paths, that we might help them to understand scripture and the salvation message. Let us take the message, but use us as Your voice to touch others. This we pray in our Savior’s precious name. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Wherever your place, tend it with care, God put you there for a reason.”

KNOWING GOD:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of he Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The representative kingdom of he house of David, the earthly kingdom during the Old Testament period, gave birth in time to the hope for a messianic kingdom. That hope looked for a future king who would bring about the reign of God and the redemption of His people. This passage describes the hope for messianic ruler to reign on the throne of David. His kingdom would be established on the basis of justice and righteousness. It would be a lasting kingdom, taking the lord Almighty Himself to accomplish it. The New Testament recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of this hope, the Inaugurator of God’s ideal reign, who will return to consummate it.

I AM:

Last Things, Kingdom Established: (Daniel 7:14, 18, 27)

Hope for the universal, everlasting reign of God was part of prophetic hope in Israel. Out of it God led His people to expect a future kingdom that endures, ruled over by an everlasting King. The meaning of history is to be found in the future establishment of this kingdom. Jesus inaugurated God’s kingdom and will establish it as His return.

Second Thought of the Day:

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’” (Revelation 11:15)

Earthly rulers have temporary power. Evil in this world is temporary. God’s sovereign authority and power are eternal, and thus His victory will be everlasting. This means persecution and suffering for Christians are also temporary. God will judge evil, reward faithfulness, and rule the world forever. The final victory will see Jesus rule openly and eternally over all creation.

The declaration of loud voices in heaven announces an establishing of God’s kingdom through conquest of the kingdom of the world. The world will ultimately come under the universal government of Christ, who will reign eternally.