Scripture:
Matthew 5:3-16
Sat, 6 November 2021

Manifesting God’s Rule

Observation:

What observations can you make about the Kingdom of God and how do they relate to Christ’s disciples being the salt of earth and the light of the world?

Deeper Reflection

THE KINGDOM OF GOD was Jesus’ chief concern. It was mentioned over 120 times in the Gospels and was the subject of Jesus’ first sermon (Mk 1:14-15) and final teachings (Acts 1:3) during His earthly ministry. The Kingdom is not a physical territory, but the rule of God as King and the rightful response of His subjects. R. T. France insightfully describes the Kingdom thus: “As God the King exercises his authority in his world, and people respond to it, there the ‘Kingdom of God’ will be experienced in many ways. There can be no one place, time, event or community which is the ‘Kingdom of God’, any more than ‘the will of God’ can be tied down to any specific situation or event. ‘The Kingdom of God’ is God in saving action, God taking control in his world.”6 The eight beatitudes (vv.3-10) are much more than an ideal set of virtues. They define for us the radical righteousness of God’s Kingdom. As God’s redeemed people, we are to manifest God’s rule in at least three ways. First, by reflecting God’s attributes of humility, gentleness, righteousness, compassion, purity and peace in the way we live and work in whatever role and wherever He has placed us in the marketplace or at home (vv.3-12). Second, by serving as “salt” to preserve and accentuate goodness and godliness in our society, and as “light” to illuminate the ultimate reality of life according to God’s Word and point people to God and His Son Jesus Christ. Third, by carrying the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom to all who have yet to hear it.


6 R. T. France, Divine Government: God’s Kingship in the Gospel of Mark (Regent College Publishing, 2003), 15.
Application:

In what ways have I been a “closet” Christian, not manifesting God’s rule where He has placed me in the marketplace?

Prayer:

Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.

Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for Church Board: To be humble, gentle, compassionate and courageous to manifest God’s rule in the marketplace and society
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 7:13-18, 25-27; 11:29-36
Sat, 2 December 2023

The Triumph

Observation:

What characterises the triumph of God’s people in tribulations under tyrants?

Deeper Reflection
God’s people living under tyrants and suffering tribulations under them can triumph – whether we are delivered from or destroyed in tribulation. The triumph rests on a threefold confidence.We know the conclusion of evil. It is repeated in manifold ways in Daniel that evil that comes through inhuman kings – no matter how great and how long – will definitely come to an end: “he will be broken” (Dan 8:25), “he will be found no more” (Dan 11:19), “yet he will come to his end” (Dan 11:45) and “all these events will be completed” (Dan 12:7).We know God’s calling for us: To be a suffering people – to be captured, plundered, burned or killed (Dan 11:33). But in our suffering, we can be strong as “people who know their God” (Dan 11:32), knowing that God is purging and purifying us to become a sanctified (Dan 11:35; 12:10) and shining people who “shine brightly” with heavenly brightness in the hostile world (Dan 12:3). And we will be a steadfast people who “keep waiting and attain to the 1,335 days” (Dan 12:12) – until we become a sovereign people who “receive and possess the kingdom forever” from “the Ancient of Days” (vv.13-14, 18, 27).We know who is in control. The tribulations under the tyrants in Daniel 7 to 12 are all subject to and subsumed under “that which is decreed will be done” (Dan 11:36; 9:26, 27) “at the appointed time” (Dan 11:27, 29, 35).We conclude Daniel with this theological-discipleship summary statement: We can triumph in tribulations under tyrants when we trust with tenacity in the One who is on the throne.
Application:

How can I triumph in tribulations?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To grow in the faith and perseverance of overcomers in Christ
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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