God's Kingdom!

For Tuesday, August 12, 2025:

Luke 17:20 NLT: “The Pharisees asked Jesus, ‘When will the Kingdom of God come?’”

There was always a little hostility as the Pharisees questioned Jesus. It was on their agenda to have Jesus killed. It just hadn’t happened yet! They needed a bullet-proof reason to justify Jesus’ murder, hence the trick questions. So they challenged him to either “put up” and produce the Kingdom of God, or to “shut up” and stop claiming he was the Messiah!

Jesus gave them the correct answer, but it wasn’t what they were expecting. “The kingdom of God is not observable. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you! It’s within your grasp!” Jesus knew that the Pharisees’ hostility and preconceived doubt would render them unable to see or receive the kingdom of God. In fact, the Kingdom of God was among them because the King of kings was among them!

So as we believers live out our lives, I want us all to look for signs of the Kingdom, people loving God and loving their neighbors. These aren’t all big things. As I walked into a convenience store yesterday, a man was coming out, and he insisted on holding the door open for me. I told him, “That’s OK, you go first.” He would not! He insisted on being nice and would not take “no” for an answer. That forced me to walk “in” the “out” door, which is strictly against my nature!

This morning, my youngest daughter sent a picture of two baby birds that hatched in her porch fern. These puffballs had their beaks open to the sky, waiting for mom and dad to insert some nutrition! Just born, how do they know to open their beaks? How do the parents know to gather food? Who told them to reproduce? How do they fly? Only God!

From now on, find your own examples of God stuff, and then give thanks. The Kingdom is a marvelous place to live if you’re on the Jesus Team!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship