Thy Kingdom Come...

I'm reading through a chronological Bible during my morning devotions and it's interesting to find both parallels between the Scripture reading of the day and events/critical decisions needed during the week. Yet there are also parallels between the narratives introducing the readings and what God is teaching me about the Kingdom as I meet with various churches (such as my role requires) through the weeks. Both, of course, are evidence of the hand of God and a cause for joy. Both are also cause for serious contemplation.

"For now we see through a glass darkly..." We know that God appears to move in such ways in our lives because we understand his presence through them, though we cannot make out His form or even necessarily what He is doing (only His intent is understood). Oddly enough, this exact passage from 1Cor 13 is the passage God gave me to speak on (both last week and this morning). As I realize that my wonder at the matter seems ironically funny.

One of the themes that's becoming obvious is the idea of the Kingdom now. Within the last three weeks I've finished a book I was advised to read TWO YEARS ago, "the Tangible Kingdom" (Hugh Halter), I watched a video I bought LAST MONTH, "The Red Letters" (Tony Campolo) and I met with an individual who is living out the tangible kingdom in the same way Hugh Halter is (this past week). Hmm...

All of these have the same basic message that we've drifted too far from the core message of Jesus, in spite of (arguably because of) our focus on Pauline epistles. Well I've always been interested much more in the Prophets than in Paul's letters, I have to admit that 'the church' as a whole does tend to focus on them more so than other Scripture. In our collective focus on right doctrine and Christian behaviour, have we somehow misguided ourselves from perhaps a more spiritually profitable focus on the Kingdom of God? I cannot answer this question at this time, but certainly contemplation and thought about it cannot fail to result in clarity, and maybe, just maybe - a more profound preparation for Christ's return.