Kingdom Come

One of our members was at an ATM machine this week, as he walked away he spoke to the stranger waiting his turn at the machine.  They exchanged pleasantries then the man asked the Northsider, "I'm new in town, can you recommend a church for me to try?"

The Northsider happens to be one of our folks who has committed to the 4XFour Challenge to invite people to church in 2014.  He had been in prayer for those efforts.  Here a complete stranger basically does everything but sign his 4XFour commitment card for him.

Was this ATM encounter a coincidence?  Our member did not think so.  We read at the beginning of our 40 Days to Easter devotional Draw the Circle that, "If you pray to God regularly, irregular things will happen on a regular basis."  Jesus told us to be praying that his kingdom would come, should we be surprised if the opportunities for the Kingdom come and knock on our door?

But what does it mean for the kingdom to come?  How can we see it?  We will delve into that a little more thoroughly Sunday, but the signs of the kingdom coming are not always in the easy, instant opportunities. The signs are sometimes in the places of obedience where it is tough or in the places of gradual transformation over the long haul of a lifetime.

I have seen the kingdom coming recently in a group of couples working on their marriages together and being transformed by a single verse of scripture that seemed to speak to every one of us in a unique but profound way.

I have seen signs of the kingdom in the new homeless ministry that is at work through our church - planting a garden and sharing the gospel in one of the toughest neighborhoods in our city.

I have seen more evidence of the kingdom coming as our Search Team works to bring a new Worship and Music Pastor to our church. 

When Jesus taught us to pray, the first request he taught us to ask was that God's kingdom would come and his will would be done.  We should not be surprised when we see it.  We should be surprised if we don't see it.  Are you seeing it?  Come join us Sunday and we will pray and search it out together.

for the journey...

Tim