Jesus’s return will usher in a spiritual and physical reality in which the heavens and earth are fully renewed, where He reigns as faithful King with His redeemed people forever.
Throughout my elementary school years, I managed to milk Albert Einstein for all he was worth. Year after year, I’d recycle my “research” for the annual biography project (subject: always Einstein). I really loved the art portion of the assignments, getting to draw his wild, unruly hair and cheeky twinkle in the eye, perhaps that tongue he used to wag at the camera. Today, photographs of him reveal more wariness than my youth was trained to see. Life grows complicated, as the scientist certainly knew.
Well-acquainted with scientific research himself, Einstein is often credited with this little ditty: “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Now, to my knowledge, Einstein didn’t give much credence to religion of any sort—only God Himself knows his heart. Still, Einstein’s point applies to spiritual life in general, doesn’t it? The tangible “stuff” we look to accumulate on this side of eternity may be counted and stacked, displayed and gazed upon with self-admiration, but we can’t take it with us to the other side of eternity. That stuff does not translate there, doesn’t travel well, so to speak.
The things that really do count and matter most are not so easily quantified. I cannot take a photograph of the countless conversations that have drawn me closer to Jesus. Those who’ve prayed for me in earnest may have nothing tangible to show for it. Messy and imperfect though it may be, the Christian community I’ve experienced through deep comfort and gentle rebuke bears no trophy for the faithful. Their wisdom and kindness, their care and casseroles, their tears—the world gives no prizes for these. But not so in God’s kingdom!
God’s kingdom may not be seen or accounted for in the ways this world asks of it, but kingdom things can still be felt and experienced, can’t they? They are discerned and perceived through the lenses of humility and wonder. They are realized in the way we love one another and the world, the way we long for gospel truth to be known. This is how we practice and experience the presence of our King and the fullness of His kingdom today.
We can know as much about this physical world as Einstein, but miss the Designer for the design. What are we missing as we strive to accumulate accolades and wealth that we cannot take with us and do not advance God’s purposes?
We are meant for so much more. He “has made us a kingdom and priests to our God, and [we] will reign on earth” one day (Revelation 5:10). We have yet to experience the immeasurable fullness of God’s kingdom, but the fullness of God Himself and His love are already ours (Ephesian 3:17–19). He has come and will come again in grandeur—we will see Him face to face! (1Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 22:4). For now, His kingdom has come in us. May it be on earth as it is heaven. Amen.
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51 thoughts on "The Fullness of the Kingdom"
This has been a magnificent study to soak in the truth of what the kingdom of God is about and how we are to live in it. As a child I was raised on hymns. Many focused on heaven and the hope of Christ’s coming. I remember the church joyously singing these songs – fixing their eyes on Jesus instead of their problems. I think I need to do more of that. I would guess there would be less anxiety, depression, and despair among us if we thought about heaven more and focused less on our temporal pain and sufferings. Hard to do I know. May this be true of me.
My husband is still struggling. He won’t really talk about it. I don’t want to move but I will do what makes him happy. But I don’t think that is really the problem.
I can’t wait either! I already got the next book and we haven’t even started this one
♥️
Anne S., I’m moved by your faith in such a dangerous situation. That you can hear God whisper, “Be still and know that I am God,” shouts to the whole earth that your God, your Father, is known personally by you. I just looked down, and the shirt I’m wearing is that verse. I am praying for you in the difficult times your country is facing.
Libby, your words today are just what I needed.
Jen, praying for you during this time of transition, praying you feel Jesus loving arms around you
Praying for you, Jen B. Listen to “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”. That’s what I’ve been singing when life seems too hard. It doesn’t have to be the country version, but that’s what comes on when I tell Alexa to play it.
It’s an old hymn. It’s what came to me when I was waiting for the Dr after I found out our baby had died inside of me. I sang it through tears in the exam room.
Also, my favorite verse is Isaiah 41:13. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and tells you, Do not fear, I will help you. It became my mantra when I was anxious and suffering from ptsd after my baby son was so weak from a stomach bug that lasted way longer than it should have.
Take heart. Christ has overcome the world!
I’ve been a part of SRT for a year and a half. I am reaching out to ask for your prayers. I’ve been out of work 5.5 months. Also, my engagement to my fiancé ended this week. It’s been a rocky relationship and I kept praying to God that I was putting it in his hands. I’m having a rough time emotionally feeling like what else can happen. I trust God has a plan and blessings are to come. The waiting is hard. I long to be in Jesus’ arms right now and I’ve asked in prayer to feel His arms around me as I go through these struggles. I’ve told myself to remember that if I have to lose even more the stuff doesn’t matter, that it’s all God’s anyway, and that good will come of it. I feel like a broken record telling myself this but I have to believe it is true. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Praying for you and your family! Praying peace washes over you!
Hi She’s! Just jumping in over here to say Hi and can’t wait to all be together again on Monday! I am so grateful for God and all He has done in my life and now doing through me to share the love of Jesus Christ! And to think, he is living within us, it is overwhelming! I cannot wait to be in my eternal home one day with those I love, but until then, I will praise his name, shout it to the world, and love they neighbors!!
I’m so sorry for your loss @Kaysley. I pray today will be a beautiful to your brothers life.
The verses in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 I believe will be good verses to use at the service for sister and niece in August.
This devotional was meaningful and I enjoyed it. Sisters we need to remember THIS IS NOT OUR FINAL DESTINATION. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit have greater plans for ALL OF US.
Be blessed and always, Always, ALWAYS, trust in the Lord, sisters.
Praying for your comfort & peace, @Kaysley Thornton, & the whole family. I love today’s scriptures-full of our eternal hope!
Thank you Libby for your beautiful words. Praying for you and your family, Kasley! Press in to Jesus!
So it is. Amen.
I cannot tell you what joy it brings to my soul to see women of God asking for prayer and other women of God, whom we most likely will never meet, praying earnestly for our sisters in Christ. Ladies, I was essentially taught growing up that women were only good for their purity and wiping butts in the nursery or serving the men at the next potluck. Jesus though. He gave the beautiful example of loving, caring for and showing women their worth. And now, when women pray, mountains are moved. We have so much value in Christ Jesus. We don’t ask what denomination you are, what race you are, what version of the Bible you read. We just pray. I love every single one of you for your heart for the Lord. I don’t always respond with a reply, but just know that when I see I prayer request, I take it to the Lord.
I will be praying over you and your family. My heart breaks for you all.
Come Lord Jesus Come. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen
Today we bury my 30 year old brother in law you passed unexpectedly this week. Todays reading gave me such hope as we face hard. So blessed to serve a God who is an ever present help when the world is giving way.
“Kingdom things discerned and perceived through the lenses of humility and wonder” wow – beautiful and true.
Lord let me do as you have called me!
This was a beautiful reading today. Many thanks, Kara. Also, when I was reading Psalm 46, I heard the tune of Tasha Layton’s song “Into the Sea.” I always find it powerful. I can’t seem to post the link, but you can find it on YouTube. Many blessings be with you all.
Earthly rulers are so flawed. Praise the Lord that some day he will rule and reign right here on Earth. Until then he reigns in my heart and I pray that I am a light to those who don’t know him.
Please ladies pray my mom she in the we right now her leg is numb and not sure why. And prayers for answers and calmness over her and my step dad.
Michelle praying for your sister Bernadette
Standing with our friends in Israel! Please LORD end this war.
I’m so glad that God is in control and powerful. I feel guilty and foolish for the times I don’t trust in him. I pray I would walk in the fullness of our God. Happy Friday ladies!!
Praise the Lord that in Exodus 33:20 “But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”, BUT GOD!! in Revelation, what a glorious closeness He will bestow on us, “We shall see His face and His names on our foreheads” (Rev 22:4). How good are you Lord. Hallelujah.
Dear ladies, would you please pray for my husband on a new job position application? Kindly pray for God’s favor and mercy to open and smooth out the process, to remove any hindrance or delay, may God open the door through my husband’s work and provision. It has been a struggle for him. Thank you very much dear sisters. I am truly thankful for this strong and prayerful community that are all of you. God bless you all!! Have a nice weekend.
❤️
Sharon, Jersey Girl- me too! I love this verse and it literally leapt off the page (or screen) at me this morning. Praise God for who He is, our refuge and our strength !
Gosh, these Scriptures just always sing to my heart. I love reading about the end of days. It brings me such joy and reminds me it’s not so far off. SOON.
My youngest sister came with me to a Bible group outting the other day. We went mini golfing, so we weren’t studying that day. My sister doesn’t practice religion anymore, as we were raised Catholic and when my parents stopped enforcing us to go after a while.
On the drive home, we got to talk about faith. I straight up asked, “How do you feel about Jesus?” Because why not, lol. And she went on to tell me that she thinks people have made too many rules about being Christian. That there shouldn’t be so many rules to be with God.
She doesn’t believe in Hell, but she believes in heaven. She doesn’t think Jesus is God but believes He is the Son of God. She believes in God the Father. She doesn’t really believe in Satan and his demons hurting us. She said we have good and us and bad in us, that’s how we are (true, in some sense…)
I asked her how it is we get to heaven and she told me that we need God’s forgiveness. So I feel like she gets it, to some extent. But she isn’t seeing how Jesus fits into the equation, even though she grew up hearing the gospel.
Like she knows God, she has definitely sensed His Holy Spirit, but I don’t know if she could truly confess Christ as Savior.
It’s kind of hard to explain, so this is my best effort. I have hope she will know Him more, but I pray the gospel becomes clearer. Perhaps the atonement part is just something she doesn’t understand because she doesn’t view Jesus as God. Idk.
Anyways, it was good and hard to hear how she really feels. She’s 18. The youngest of 7. I pray God continues to reveal Himself to her. I ask if any of you read this, please lift my little sister Bernadette up in prayer. That God would reveal Himself as He has for us. The Savior, the Messiah. The One we need to have eternal life.
Thanks so much, ladies. God bless!! <3
Anne prayers for your safety and for peace. Have blessed weekend sisters and thank you all for your comments and wisdom.
Love seeing these wonderful Scriptures grouped together this morning. The phrase that jumped out to me this morning was REVELATION 22:11b –
“Let the righteous go on in righteousness, let the holy still be holy.”
In the past, I have focused on the words of Jesus following that verse and never focused on it. That is my prayer for all of God’s people through our trials in every nation that we continue to live and love as God has called us to do.
KARA, your words and these Scriptures are so powerful and encouraging. Thank you all for this wonderful study!!! Have a blessed weekend ladies.
ANNE, you and your country are covered in the prayers of many! May you find comfort and peace.
AMEN! Yes come Lord Jesus!!
Come, Lord Jesus, come!
As usual the scriptures here are so timely. After lamenting and praying for the brokenness in present-day Israel and Palestinian territories, what a gift to read from Revelation about the new creation and the New Jerusalem that is the seat of God’s coming kingdom.
Psalm 46:1 – One of my favorite “go to” verses! When I fear, when I am in trouble, I go to the one who is my refuge, my strength – Almighty God! Thank you Kara for the reminder that God is our (ever) faithful King!
These verses from the song No Doubt About It, from We Are the Kindwom–such a beautiful song.
I hear a choir of angels
Cheering me on
I’m not yet where I’m going
But I’m a long way from where I was
Imagine me in Your arms
The only place I long to be
And when this life gets hard
One day I’ll dance on golden streets
And ride on angels’ wings
Happy Friday, may you all have a good, joy-filled wkd. Prayers for comfort for all those in need.
Amen come Lord Jesus! Your people desire to behold you and set this world right! Your way not ours!
Here on earth we have but glimpses of the kingdom of God. Imagine what awaits us! May we be the bearers and sharers of this kingdom hope so that others may be drawn to the One who reigns there.
Loved the header for today’s reading:
“Jesus’s return will usher in a spiritual and physical reality in which the heavens and earth are fully renewed, where He reigns as faithful King with His redeemed people forever.”
…it sums up perfectly what God’s desire and vision is.. it’s beyond anything we can imagine and it is GOOD!!! Come Lord Jesus!!
Maura, Isaiah 12 reminded me of that song ‘Sing Praise to the Lord’
“Sing your praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more hallelujah
Sing your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it’s gonna do you
Just to sing..”
I too, also noticed the connection between the woman at the well!! So glorious!!!
May His Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven ❤️
Anne, I am praying for you and for your host country. May you be able to lie down in peace at night, sheltered in the refuge of God.
Amen!
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
I am thankful for the presence of our God that indwells those who know Him and are called by His name. I am indebted to my God for the gift of that salvation for all who will accept it through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is a gift purchased by One offered to all.
I look forward to the fullness of His kingdom where one day we will see His face, maybe splash in the stream of living water, while basking in the warmth and glow of the shine of the Son, and where we will be tattooed with the name of our God across our foreheads.
Anne, you are in my prayers this morning. May God’s presence enfold you, bring protection, and peace.
This was a great study. Thanks to all the “shes” for your thoughts and interaction.
Psalm 46’s verses were set to music in a great song on the Coram Deo album (1992)
Oh to have those nation-healing leaves now!
STRUGGLING – ❤ 1 Peter 5:10
Anne I am praying for you, may you feel God holding you in His loving arms of love and protection.
Standing with you Anne and praying for you!
The Fullness of the Kingdom, have so loved the depths of this study, the messages of SRT and the comments of you all. It has helped to remind me that in the battles I feel in the world around me, that the victory has been won, His Kingdom is coming and though my mind wants to fixate on the negative and draw me into worry, the Holy Spirit helps me to hear what is Truth the battle is the Lord’s and I can trust in Him who holds it all and covers it in light and I can let His light shine in and thru me. Dear ERB, Isaiah ch 12 – just 6 verses, but so good in praise to our God. vs 3 “With joy you will draw water from the well of salvation”. I love this in particular and think on the woman at the well and how she came for water but found salvation and the One who knew her and spoke to her soul and how she went and shared Jesus with others. How He meets us right where we are, right in our need, and speaks into our life. Sing His praises, exalt the Most High God, for He is worthy, so very worthy of all our praise. The joy of His salvation to your day Sisters.
Ah! What a balm to my soul to read these words first thing this morning!
God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas
This entire psalm was spot on for what we, in my host country, are experiencing now.
I spent a sleepless night in fear of air raid sirens sounding, ready to run to the safe room. But He who makes wars cease to the ends of the earth says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” May the LORD God Almighty work in the hearts of those on both sides of this conflict to open their eyes to the Truth.
These passages and this devotional this morning directed my heart back to the things that count. (I love the Einstein quote also!) Thank you, SRT!