God's Kingdom in Our Midst
Scripture Reading — Luke 17:20-25
“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
Responding to a question about the kingdom of God, Jesus gave a rather startling answer. He told his listeners that the kingdom of God was “in [their] midst,” meaning that it was present because Jesus himself was there among them. Today, because Christ is present in us through the Holy Spirit, we can bring the presence of God’s kingdom wherever we are.
If you are a teacher in a classroom, your presence means that God’s kingdom is there. Wherever you may be vacationing this summer, you are bringing a part of that kingdom. Whether you spend your days driving a truck, working in an office, or providing health care in a hospital, the kingdom of God goes with you. If you are confined to a bed, God’s kingdom is pre-sent there.
Years ago a theologian named Abraham Kuyper pointed out that every square inch of the universe belongs to our Lord. And you and I are called to make a difference for Christ in this world, his world.
Perhaps you wonder how you could possibly make a differ-ence for Christ. Perhaps you feel that because of who you are and because of your circumstances, your influence is small and insignificant. If so, remember what Jesus said to his dis-ciples, that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed: small, but with tremendous potential (Luke 13:18-19). May his king-dom come!
Lord Jesus, help us to realize that you are with us wherever we go, and use us wherever we may find ourselves. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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