He Spoke About a Kingdom

They followed him in the same way a flock of sheep would follow their shepherd. He led them to a mountain and taught his followers to pray to the God who is in heaven and call him Father. They were to pray to the Father in heaven and ask that his kingdom come. The one speaking of this kingdom knew about it from firsthand experience. He was with the Father in the beginning and all things had been created through him. He was the word that spoke the world into being. He had become flesh and had taken up residence with those he had created. He who was himself the one and only Son from the Father was inviting his followers into an intimate relationship through prayer.

The angels who had served him in eternity past announced his coming. They had known him in all his glory. They had longed to understand why he, to whom all things were subjugated, would humble himself and make himself lower than the angels. If he had not masked his glory in human flesh, no eye would be able to look upon him because he was the light of the world. Had he not softened his voice, the sound of a mighty rushing wind would have terrified those who heard him speak. Yet he had emptied himself and had come in the form of a servant. His gentle nature caused children to feel safe in his presence.

There was nothing about his appearance that drew people to him, but when he spoke he spoke with an authority they had never heard before. When he spoke about the Father even the oldest one in their midst felt himself young again. The burden of the years lifted from his bowed shoulders and his attention was drawn to the birds of the sky. Guided by the words of Jesus, he saw them now as if for the first time not sowing or reaping but instead being fed by the heavenly Father. While lying on his back watching these beautiful delicate creatures he heard the question, “Aren't you worth more than they are? If your heavenly Father feeds them, can't you trust him to care for you?”

Again the gentle voice of authority spoke to the child inside him, “You are worried, but why? What does your worry accomplish? Look at the wildflowers growing in the fields. Not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If this is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, won't he do much more for you—you of little faith? Again he spoke not only of the Father in heaven, but He also spoke of the kingdom. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33,34)

I went just now into the field. The bare branches of the trees were covered with birds. Suddenly they took flight, soaring above me. I saw no flowers. It's not the right season for flowers but I remember when it was. I smiled at the memory of finding flowers tucked into every nook and cranny of the field. Oh the extravagance of God! Beauty that appears for such a brief moment, whether it is seen or not. It was then I heard his gentle voice speaking to my spirit, “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.