Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17
We hear a lot these days about constitutional reform and new constitutions. In the past year the people of Iraq have struggled to write a new constitution. In the past couple of years several countries in Europe have debated proposals for a constitution of the European Union. A constitution is a document that outlines the privileges and responsibilities of a people. It declares how people are governed and how they should live as citizens. Every nation needs a constitution.
When you become a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a citizen of the kingdom of God. The Bible teaches that John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the coming of Jesus, preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." And when Jesus began his ministry, he preached the same message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
This month I invite you to come on a journey with me to discover what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Let's explore together how we can live as citizens of the kingdom of God. What do such citizens look like? What constitutional privileges and responsibilities do they have? What's it like to live under God's rule? If you're not a citizen of God's kingdom, I'd like to invite you to become one. Jesus promises eternal life for all who believe in him as Lord and Savior.
Lord, we are excited about taking a journey together to discover how followers of Jesus Christ live. We pray for open hearts to understand and receive. In Jesus, Amen.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!