Can you relate? Jesus' ways turn commonly-held beliefs on their head. Here are some examples… He comes & befriends sinners instead of the religious. He honors the sacrifice of the poor and criticizes prideful giving. He claims that the greatest in the room is the one who serves. He tells us to forgive endlessly. He comes close to those that others steer away from. He asks us to love our enemies. He said to not be afraid (of anything). He gives value to women, children, orphans, widows, ethnicities & people groups looked down upon in His day. He challenges His followers to live for others instead of themselves. He is introducing a new culture, a new way of life, the Kingdom of God. 

 

This new way of life should shock our system. It should make us uncomfortable, because Jesus is teaching us to live as foreigners & exiles in this world and as citizens of Heaven. In other words, your and my flesh will want to react a certain way to the circumstances in our life… to be spiteful, prideful, unforgiving, etc. (ways to self-preserve in the wind-tossed world we live in), and He is asking us to remember that our home is currently in a new Kingdom with a new culture and a new way of life. 

 

What do we do with this? It is a great invitation—to be invited into the Kingdom of God! This Kingdom is full of peace, thanksgiving, joy, provision, serving, giving, righteousness, love, and grace, because God's image reigns there—even in the hearts of man. Citizenship in this Kingdom is offered to all through the self-sacrifice of its King, and participation in this Kingdom changes everything about life on earth today as His image reigns in the hearts of man through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Things of the world lose value, and the things of Heaven become our greatest treasure. 

 

I'm glad that things Jesus says and does make me uncomfortable, because I want to experience His Kingdom, living in His image on earth instead of in my own self-preserving ways. 

 

I hope in this season of thanks & giving that you're reminded, as I have been, that the greatest reason for thanks & giving is that Jesus has brought the good news of the Kingdom of God to earth.