God in us – Day 1
The kingdom of God … within us
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
NgokukaLuka 17
Umbuso kaNkulunkulu; ukubuya kweNdodana yomuntu
1 kwabaseKorinte 4
In the first part of this month’s devotions, we will look into what God does in the life of the believer in Christ. When we become a child of God, through our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and we become part of God’s kingdom. In addition, as joint heirs with Christ, all the promises in the Bible are promises to us too. However, what exactly is the kingdom that we become part of?
Luke 17:20-21: And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; neither shall they say, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo there!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you!”
We all know that a kingdom is a place where a king rules. Thus, the kingdom of God is a place where God rules – in and over the lives of his “subjects”. Jesus confirms this truth when he teaches the people that the kingdom is within them. It is a kingdom that is invisible to the naked eye and cannot be located geographically, but it is dynamic, eternal, growing and actively involved in the lives of people who honour Jesus Christ, the King, in whom the Spirit of the King lives.
A characteristic of this kingdom, for the believer, is the power (of the Holy Spirit) that works within him. Amongst other things, this power has the ability to renew the believer and to change him to such an extent that he can reflect the holiness of the King who rules within him. Mere talk about faith matters has no value in the kingdom; the power thereof must be visible in one’s life. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)
Another characteristic of the King’s rulership is that fruit should become visible. Romans 14:17 teaches: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
As a believer, you are in a very favourable position: the rulership of God is present in your life, but you continually have to seek and strive how to understand this rulership in your life (Luke 12:31), so that in the end, you will bear fruit that is fitting to the kingdom.
