Day #159 - Kingdom Presence
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,”
Romans 14:17 NIV
Have you ever been to a kingdom?
I’ve got to travel through the United Kingdom on the way to other destinations, but due to some long layovers, I had some time to travel and explore London and Windsor. I loved seeing the history at Windsor Castle. As an American, I haven’t always been able to easily conceptualize what a kingdom is. But those that live under a king in a kingdom realize they live under the king’s rule or the king’s domain. Wherever, the king’s rule extends they are in the boundaries of that kingdom.
In Romans 14, when Paul is teaching on the freedom of conscience we have as Christians concerning food and drink, he makes a powerful statement about the kingdom of God. He states that the “kingdom of God… is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” I’ve heard Bishop Jospeh Garlington share from this verse, “the kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit.”
Putting together what we have discussed in previous writings and this one, the reign of God is in God’s empowering presence. Where God’s presence is manifest through the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of God is in that place. The kingdom is full of righteousness, peace and joy. That is, it is full of right standing, right living, right thinking and right delighting.
When the presence of God is with us, God reigns in that place and releases in us righteousness, peace and joy. Wherever God is present His kingdom is present. The kingdom of God has many aspects to it in the Bible: the return of Jesus, caring for the poor, miracles, signs and wonders. Paul is focusing here on the immediate manifestation of the kingdom that is present with the believer now in our heart through the Holy Spirit.
When you are struggling with issues of righteousness, peace and joy in your life, it might be that you are presence deprived. Working through issues like unrighteousness, stress and sorrow sometimes become a chore in trying to intricately solve our own problems. But what if we are supposed to get in a superior presence, “the Presence” of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit ushers in what we need as we surrender to the King of the kingdom.
Great and awesome God, King of all the universe, thank you for Your kingdom reign in my life through the Holy Spirit. Let Your kingdom manifest in me in righteousness, peace and joy. I yield to Your reign and celebrate it. There is no one like You. Let me experience the power and beauty of Your kingdom in my life. In Jesus name, amen.
Yes, yes and amen. 🔥🕊
I really needed to hear this, thank you.