A KINGDOM WITHIN A KINGDOM
11th Dec 2019
When you made Jesus Lord of your life, you became a new creation in Christ - under new ownership, serving a new master, seeking to obey and please the One who is invisible yet present within you by the Holy Spirit.
I remember my conversion with such clarity, I was young, an 11year old child, but totally aware of my inability to obey rules and regulations set by those in authority. I knew myself to be rebellious and self reliant, even fond of such behaviour and yet deep down wanting, yet unable to be different.
The joy of knowing acceptance by God because of Jesus, a new beginning, a new heart, a new friend were experienced immediately, understanding came later. I now knew I was part of a different kingdom, a citizen of heaven, living on earth but subject to a higher authority and direction. My life was indeed not my own, I had been bought with a price. The privilege and wonder of this has never left me.
Ezra had a similar experience, he was a Jew living in captivity in Babylon and chosen by God to be part of the Temple rebuilding team and provided with everything he needed to travel back to Jerusalem, repair the temple and restore worship - “so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.” (Ezra 6:10)
Ezra and those with him found much opposition and faced physical danger, also the subtle seductive pressure of the society they now inhabited, (many married foreign women who didn’t know and love God) and Ezra’s heart was heavy as he interceded for his nation and sought God’s forgiveness for their disobedience and sin. Not a very different picture from today.
However, Ezra reminds us how gracious God has been, his kindness shown to us by so many. He has given us new life and power for all He calls us to do, as well as protection and favour whilst we follow Him.
Today pour out your heart to God for this nation and those who rule. Pray for the Church, that we would not get seduced by the society we live in. Pray for yourself to be on fire, not lukewarm, and be thankful.
“John was a blazing, burning torch, and for a short time you basked in his light with great joy.” (John 5:35) That is what you and I have been called to be.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
