Aligning priorities...

We can really seek God's Kingdom only when we love the Lord more than anybody or anything else in this world. Only when we passionately love Him will we be serious to do God's work. That is why when Peter told Jesus that they had left everything to follow Him did Jesus say,

Luke 18:29-30 [NASB]
And He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, Who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come eternal life'

This scripture does not indicate literally leaving behind our families, but our place for God in our hearts should be above everyone and everything else. To love Him is to seek to please Him and do His will all the time...Only when we are willing to love Him above all, will we be able to work for His kingdom effectively.

Seeking God's Purpose

When we look at our goals of life each one us has something to achieve or attain or possess. Some may want to buy a house or a car, a job, career, education, position, or even migration. Whatever it may be... these may be the important things in our life, yet we need to understand that they are not the most important ones.

As God's children we also have a divine goal to seek and work on... Look what the Word of God says,
Matt 6:31-33 (NIV)
(v.31) So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (v. 32)For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (v.33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

We are to seek first the purpose for which God created us uniquely. We have a role in God's Kingdom and that role can be done only by us. Otherwise it is left undone. So while we are busy pursuing our earthly personal goals, let us seriously take God's Word and seek to do His will for us in His Kingdom and fulfill the purpose of our life here on earth.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, please let me know the work that you have got for me in your Kingdom and help me to do it faithfully by your grace. In your precious name. Amen.

Kingdom nature 3

Along with living the life like Jesus did, we should also share the good news of Jesus to those who are open to it. We share the gospel not only because the Lord commanded us to do but more because of the overflow of what Jesus is to us and what He is doing in our lives. Our lives are testimonies that He is real in our lives and how we have derived a meaning to this life on earth through Him.

It may be hard to share the gospel to everyone. But when we are in tune with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit leads us to share the gospel to those who are open to listen. This we will know because we will have a clear perception as who will listen when we converse with people. But sometimes while sharing the gospel many may not receive it with open mind and heart. We should not get annoyed if the gospel is not received well. We are not hear to convince people through arguments, but to share the Love of God with the very nature of love and gentleness.

So it is better that we understand the true nature of God's Kingdom before we share the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 6:12 (New King James Version)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

We don't fight against people but we fight against Satan and His forces who are blinding the people to know the truth.

Kingdom nature 2

As we contiue to meditate that we should reflect Jesus in everything we say and do, we see that it is not an impossible task as many perceive it. For Jesus was a human like us when He lived on earth. He lived a pure life due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated God's Kingdom through the power of the Spirit. We can sure have the same poise and the power that Jesus demonstrated while on earth. We should not excuse ourselves saying that we are not Jesus to be so or do so. It is possible to live like Him as long as we are willing and yielding to the Spirit of God.

The first and the foremost thing to reflect Jesus is to have the same kind of heart and mind like Him which is emphasized in Col 3:12-14 (NIV)

(v.12)Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (v.13)Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (v.14)And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

If we can only possess these attributes in us, we sure will reflect Him ...

Imitating Jesus

One of the key factor in being a child of God is that we live and be like Jesus. We need to question this often in our minds, "What would Jesus do in this situation? How would he react or decide?" We become His copy cats in everything. Be it for our own life situations or while doing something for someone...

We demonstrate God's Kingdom by exactly doing what Jesus would have done in that particular scenario or issue.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

(v.3 )Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, (v.4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Romans 12:15-16 (NIV)
(v.15) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (v.16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

This is mind set we should have while serving others. We put ourselves in others shoes and help them find Christ...

Kingdom nature...

As the Kingdom of God lives in us, we cannot live passively but actively as God's children. We cannot afford to live stagnant lives but a life of growth. We keep growing, encouraging, empowering people around us or associated with us... We inflict others by touching lives. We preach the good news of Jesus not out of obligation or compulsion but out of overflowing.

We should never preach the gospel just because we should do it as a Christian. But when our life overflows with Jesus, then we sure cannot be quiet as it overflows automatically through our words, deeds and actions. That is the nature of God's Kingdom.

Luke 13: 18-21 (NIV)
(v.18)Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? (v.19)It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
(v.20) Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? (v.21)It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

Reflecting the Kingdom

When we say that the Kingdom of God is in us, what we demonstrate more powerfully is the life we live. We cannot be people who live contrary to what we speak. For instance, it is so easy to talk about righteousness. purity and integrity but it not that easy to live that life. But unless we live honestly and truly before men and God, we cannot reflect the Kingdom. We cannot preach the gospel unless we and our life reflects Jesus.

For the Kingdom of God is not of mere talk but of power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 (Amplified Bible)
For the kingdom of God consists of and is based on not talk but power (moral power and excellence of soul).

Without moral power and excellence of soul we should not preach the gospel. That is why a great man of God said,

Preach the gospel and when necessary use words...

So let us make every effort to live a life reflecting Jesus so that we don't become a mockery...