Day 5: Another kingdom
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear (John 18:10).
Sovereign Lord, the disciples, facing hostility and opposition, prayed the words given to David by the Holy Spirit: Why do the nations conspire (rage), and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His Anointed One... (Acts 4:25-26, Psalm 2:1-2).
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11). And in Your Sovereign power, purpose, and will You declared: "I have installed My King on Zion, My holy mountain" (Psalm 2:6).
The King Himself, the Lord Jesus, made clear to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world... But now My Kingdom is from another place" (John 18:36). It was not yet the time when ‘the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him’ (Daniel 7:27).
Peter and the other disciples did not understand this at first. And in many cases, neither do we. Our hands are often quick to reach for the sword instead of the cup You are handing us (John 18:11). Forgive us, Lord, and help us to understand.
As He prayed for us, our Lord declared, "they are not of the world any more than I am not of the world... They are not of the world even as I am not of it" (John 17:14,16). Our sojourn in this world is temporary—our citizenship is in heaven. And we await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ... (Philippians 3:20).
But while we wait, we are charged to be about our Father's business (Luke 2:49 - NKJV). So help us to look at the world, not through lenses of suspicion, fear, prejudice, hostility, or religious superiority but with the love of Christ.
And even when we encounter opposition and antagonism, teach us to live out the kingdom values the Lord Jesus detailed for us: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44-45). Help us to sheath our swords and drink Your cup (John 18:11).
Deliver us from the temptation to set our minds on earthly things (Philippians 3:19). Deliver us from the lusts (James 1:14 - KJV) that entice us to earthly power, greed, and control—causing us to be drawn into evil—to be manipulated for devious ends. Give us the wisdom and discernment to recognize evil, corruption and ungodliness in the human systems and institutions around us. Teach us to navigate them without endorsing them.
Remind us of our call to higher ground. Teach us to live on earth as citizens of another kingdom. Teach us to be stewards and ambassadors for You, praying always that Your kingdom would come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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