“The kingdom of God is our aim and destination.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 7, 2023
And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:5, NLT
The kingdom of God is the aim and destination of every believer’s journey of faith. It breaks into the present and will one day be perfectly known and inhabited as we live eternally under the peaceful rule and reign of God. As such, we must learn to view every moment of life, every season and stage as preparation for our entry into the kingdom.
The Lord, in his kindness, gives us many opportunities to encounter the life of his kingdom. When a man and woman come together in marriage, they in a sense become kings and queens of their own tiny kingdom, what we call “a family,” and this tiny kingdom is filled with potential and possibility, either to lose sight of its purpose and be a kingdom of selfishness and discord or to be a kingdom that in miniature reflects the values of the true and eternal kingdom, a window into heaven.
While this may be an easy example to embrace and celebrate, for we immediately see the goodness and virtue of family life, we must remember that our Lord also uses countless other situations to prepare us for eternity, even those that are painful and on the surface unwanted.
I think of this when I read the words of 2 Thessalonians 1:5, where we are reminded of the truth that the suffering that this early Christian community endured was allowed by the Lord, at least in part, to make them “worthy of his kingdom.”
It is for this reason that Christian history is filled with stories of men and women who rejoice in their trials, even going so far as to give thanks for them! How convicting this truth is, for so often when we face difficulties in life, they can cause us to grow bitter, confused, and even angry. We may be tempted to wonder if God loves us or is near to us in this time of trial. Yet if and when we learn to see our trials and suffering as a momentary burden that shapes us and makes us worthy for eternity, we not only are set free from grumbling and frustration, we are able to endure with joy, considering it an honor to in some small way share in the sufferings of Christ, who reveals to us the truth that death is defeated and must, in the end, give way to life.
Prayer
Father, remind us today that you are working in every season of life, leading us in our joy and in our trials deeper into the life of your kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
In what way may the Lord be allowing suffering in your life in order to make you worthy of the kingdom?
Related Reading
Psalm 13:1-6; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 3:13-17
Worship Resource
Boyce Worship Collective: Sovereign Over Us
Donate
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision.
Download our app!
