20/08/2024
🌍 Day 5: Now & Not Yet 🌍
In today’s devotional, we reflect on the tension between the "now" and "not yet" of God's Kingdom.
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom on numerous occasions, particularly in Matthew 13, describing it as a precious remnant of people supernaturally growing exponentially, and carrying something of great value to transform surrounding communities. This was a vast contrast to the disciples’ and other Jews’ expectations of an army to overthrow their oppressors. Their assumptions were shaped by perceptions of militant Old Testament prophecies (Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 9:1-7; 35:4 & 10; 40:9-10; 52:7-10, Daniel 7).
Instead, Jesus described a non-violent spiritual movement that provides opportunities for transformation, whilst co-existing amongst the oppressors with only God as final judge. The book of Acts powerfully exemplified this. Essentially, God’s Kingdom is the lived experience of His will on Earth. We fulfil this by receiving His lordship into our hearts and minds, through obedience to His Word, and choosing to live a Spirit-led life.
However, Matthew 6:10 carries an even deeper message. God’s abode in Heaven (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 57:15) is an eternal realm outside of chronological time. Hence God describes Himself as both alpha and omega (Revelation 22:13), as matters on Earth have already occurred and He has seen our whole life (Psalm 139:2-4, 16). With this omniscience, His orchestrated design for us is good and perfect (Jeremiah 19:11).
Thus, praying for His Kingdom and will to come on Earth, synchronises with God’s completed plan in Heaven, which has a victorious outcome. Outside of this alignment, we opt out of His divine mission on Earth, both in and through our lives. Whilst our comfort in this process never supersedes fulfilling God’s will (Luke 22:42), the result always justifies the journey. In Heaven’s realm, all happens “now”, whereas within Earth’s chronological time, many matters have “not yet” occurred.
This strange paradox of synchronising “now” and “not yet” is what Jesus referred to when he said, “on Earth as it is in Heaven”. He emphasised this as a priority focus for prayer, because once we receive the Kingdom and will of God in alignment with Heaven, we complete our ultimate purpose. So, the question is, are you aligned with Heaven?
🎶 Let "Your Great Name" by Todd Dulaney lead you into deeper prayer and reflection today. Are there areas in your life where you’ve resisted God’s direction? How can you align more closely with His will?
Let’s be intentional about living in alignment with Heaven as we count down to the National Convention!