Jesus came as the perfect, eternal King.
This world is not our home.
It’s a statement I’ve heard, and even said, often in my years of growing up in the Church and following Jesus. Sometimes it’s offered as a lament, acknowledging the brokenness and flaws inherent in this earthly life. Other times it’s meant as encouragement, reminding us of the joy and perfection of the eternal life to come. Either way, it testifies to a sort of emptiness, a restlessness—that nagging feeling of incompleteness common to the human experience. C. S. Lewis said it this way in his book Mere Christianity: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
And he’s right. Scripture teaches that the world cannot fill our God-shaped longings. “I desire nothing on earth but you,” the psalmist cries out (Psalm 73:25). We were made to be in perfect fellowship with God, our Creator, and that perfection is not something we will know until every tear is wiped away and all things are made new. But Scripture also makes it clear that we are here in this imperfect place on purpose and for a purpose; we are part of God’s plan to bring His kingdom to bear on earth. We are written into His redemption story.
So, what does that mean for right here and right now? How do we live on earth as citizens of heaven? What does it look like to embrace the already-and-not-yet reality of our permanent home—the kingdom of God—while here in our temporary one?
In the first part of this three-week study, we will look to Scripture to better understand Jesus, the King, and the nature of the kingdom of God. Then we’ll spend the remaining two weeks reading about life in the kingdom. Who are its citizens? What are its values, law, and purpose? What does it mean to enter into the kingdom of God while also anticipating it? How does King Jesus call us to live now in light of who He is and all that is to come?
Truly, there is no one like Him. Jesus came to us as our perfect King (Matthew 21:5), carrying all the authority and power of heaven with Him. Wrapped in flesh, He revealed the very nature of the Father’s love for us (Hebrews 1:3). His is the ultimate kingdom, and He is our forever King, the one who chose to give His life over for us and is now “exalted to the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33). “Therefore let all [God’s people] know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (v.36).
By God’s grace, may this reality rekindle our passion for following Jesus, as we submit every corner of our hearts and lives to His rule. May we “press on to that other country,” as Lewis said, and “help others to do the same.” This is, after all, what we were made for.
Me too, I started Amos on May 1st, then realized it doesn’t start until later this month.
The charges for the year are consistent with the studies followed, and the books for the upcoming month are billed on the 1st of the month. So there isn’t a missing book in terms of billing. I got confused at first bc some of the emails go to my spam, but the SRT support team is super sweet. You can always redeem some perk points if you’ve accrued them to get a really good discount on a study book!
Amen
Amen
I got an email that they are no longer doing the annual subscription box’s , super sad about this
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’” – Matthew 2:6
May 22
Hi Anita! I’m happy you’re here. Amos is one of the books of the Bible. He is a minor prophet— someone who received the word of the Lord to speak to people on behalf of him, like the Lords mouthpiece. He is a ‘minor prophet’ because his book is shorter than major prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. I believe Amos is the next book of the Bible the she reads truth community will study together!