The Secrets of the Kingdom
A thinly disguised spiritual adventure
I am happy to share this journal of spiritual adventure from a diary I found in the drawer of my new writing desk. I am sharing it one entry at a time, even though I have read ahead in it myself. In the last entry I posted, this “Jerry” person set out to form a community of spiritual friends who would meet regularly to build into each other’s lives.
I wish he had included more details about how that fellowship worked. I realize I need a similar group of friends for my own growth. Maybe there is not one set pattern, and we each need to design what works for us.
Monday,
Well, it’s back to work. I expected returning to my job would be hard after a heavy weekend of spiritual focus. Turns out it wasn’t an issue. In fact, getting my mind in tune with God might have helped me with the responsibilities needing my attention today.
I did talk to William and Kim about meeting regularly for spiritual growth. They are busy, so I will need to fit into their schedule. But they see the value. They mentioned another couple from church that might be interested—a young family with kids (and even tighter schedule). I made initial contact with them and they are praying about their response.
I also want to get in touch with a guy I see at the coffee shop all the time. He is sitting there with one or two other people when I go in. They are always talking about the Lord and discipleship. I know he attends our church, but don’t know him personally. I plan to track him down this week. I think his name is Joe.
Homework: I did read through the kingdom parables last night and started making a list of kingdom themes. They are not only in the gospels; Romans has them, too.
Jesus said, “to you is given to know the secrets of the kingdom.” The parables work because most people only see the physical things in front of them, missing the transcendent meaning behind so much of God’s creation in nature, art, and people. Jesus’ followers see through the surface—so they can grasp the parables’ meaning.
But once you see what is on the other side of the blinds, through the window of the outer world, you cannot not see it. So I am calling each principle I find about God’s kingdom a secret of the kingdom.
The kingdom is about growing: wheat, trees, yeast, bearing fruit. I need to see that in myself.
The kingdom runs through all human history: from “the foundation of the world” to “the end of the age.” The parable in Mark 4:26-29 has God’s kingdom growing from a seed all the way to the harvest. It develops and expands in stages. Jesus tells the disciples that godly people in the past knew less than they knew later.
The kingdom is knowing God and his gifts (hidden treasure, expensive pearls, old and new treasures).
The world’s kingdom pushes back on God’s people through persecution. People also entice us away by offering the temporal riches of the world. I’m not sure if God’s kingdom exists within the world’s kingdom, or the other way around. Maybe both.
Being a “king” in the kingdom of heaven is not like the pomp and power of earthly rulers. Most political superstars miss the point of kingship. But, the value of being restored is way beyond the world itself.
I suspect that what I learned last week about Abraham’s righteousness (both given and learned) was a kingdom of God story. I will ask about that.
Goodnight--