God’s Kingdom in your midst

‘Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”’ Luke 17.20-21

This is one of those verses that gives us so much hope. The kingdom of God which Jesus is speaking about is the spiritual territory over which God has control. We are encouraged to pray ‘your kingdom come’, as a prayer that God’s rule and control will increase – both in the world, in people and in situations where his justice is needed, as well as in the situations we face and where we long for the outworking of his reign. In this phrase, “the kingdom of God is in your midst”, Jesus is saying that hope is never far from us.

Jesus is never distant from us. In fact, he said that he would be with us always and has made his home within us. The incredible implication of this is that when we pray for his kingdom to come into certain situations, he is already there. What’s more, Jesus isn’t just standing there impassive and watching, but he’s on a mission to bring justice and has with him all the resources of heaven. He also has us, whom he has called to be his co-workers, who bear his presence and are temples of the Holy Spirit.

In every situation facing you today, you can have hope. There is the certainty that Jesus is present and that his Spirit within you is real as well. Walk into every situation today whispering the name of Jesus under your breath and know that his kingdom is in your midst.

www.healingmission.org