"The Kingdom Way" April 20 Readings: Ruth 3-4, Luke 13:1–21, Psalm 50:1–3, Proverbs 11:11-12

 

 

Reading the Bible in 2023

Each day this year we will read a selection from the Old Testament, the New Testament, a portion of the Psalms, and part of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have read the entire Bible. We read this way to give you a bit of variety. In reading four portions of God's word in a day, one of them is bound to speak to your life!

NOTE: if you get behind, do not give up. Read today's readings and try to catch up when you have a chance. The goal is not to "accomplish a task" but to meet God in his word. Read the word. Also, if you are short on time, READ GOD'S WORD and skip my devotional!

Bible Readings: Ruth 3-4, Luke 13:1–21, Psalm 50:1–3, Proverbs 11:11-12

    Scriptures linked to Bible Gateway in ESV version 

Daily Devotional:  The Kingdom Way

"If just one person is reached through our efforts, then it was all worth it!" 

Ever heard that chestnut? When churches put on huge, expensive, man-hour intensive Christmas or Easter productions, when we pour massive amounts of work into projects that produce paltry results, someone is sure to trot out that phrase. And of course, there is truth there. Is there any length to which we would not go if we knew one soul would be saved? Is there any cost we would not pay to bring someone from death to life?

But in Luke 13:18-21 Jesus told two parables that describe the kingdom of God in ways that are very different from the sentiment I described above.

He begins by asking a question, "What is the kingdom of God like?" How do things operate when God is in charge; when he is at work? He then tells two stories to answer his question.

“It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”

On my desk, I have a jar of mustard seeds that I purchased in Israel. I keep them on my desk to remind of this truth. When you have faith as a mustard seed, great things happen in the kingdom. Here, Jesus describes how the mustard seed grows into a large tree and becomes a blessing to others. 

In the kingdom, a little faith, a little devotion, a little service to God brings great rewards. It bears great fruit. That is so contrary to the idea of putting in hundreds of hours into a ministry and hoping that one soul might be reached. 

The second story reinforces the first. 

"It’s like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through the entire mixture.”

Here, Jesus uses yeast, which usually illustrates the pernicious effects of sin, to illustrate how things work in the kingdom of God. It doesn't take much yeast to affect a large amount of dough. A little works its way in and has great effects. 

The kingdom of God is not about the things we can do for God. Unfortunately, we are usually "doing our best" for him. That is why all our efforts often bring little fruit. But when we yield to God and operate on his agenda for our lives, life becomes about God doing his best through us. It is not about our great efforts but God's; not our abilities but his. 

Father, may my life be a kingdom life, where you take the little I have and make it productive, make it significant. 

Consider God's Word:

Did one of these passages speak strongly to you today? Which one? 

Is there sin in your life that needs to be confessed and dealt with that was revealed in one of these passages? 

Is there a struggle in your life that one of these passages spoke to? 

Are you living a kingdom life - your little becoming much because of the power of God mixing in?
What is happening in your life that can only be attributed to the powerful activity of God?