Thought for the Week

Central to the teaching of Jesus was “The Kingdom of God/ Heaven”.

The weakness of language has caused us to think of this as a place. However, originally it just means where or when God reigns – ie where God-shaped things happen.

God reigns when someone smiles or says “Hello”, especially to someone different.

God reigns where there is a warm and open heart reaching out to care.

God reigns when a helping hand is offered; or when hands clap at someone else’s achievement.

God reigns when arms hug to share the pain, or to shelter and protect the weak, especially the children.

God reigns in couples who love, and in the expansion of that love to take in the in-laws, new family and new friends.

God reigns especially in the love that reaches out to enemies, giving and seeking forgiveness, seeking to rebuild the relationship.

God reigns in giving yourself to others for their benefit – running community groups, children clubs, helping to provide opportunities for people to grow, to learn, know they are not alone.

God reigns as you stand with those who seek justice, peace, truth in a system that too often denies this.

God reigns in the caring for the vulnerable, the weak, the frail elderly, the mentally ill, those struggling to make ends meet, the mentally and physically disabled.

None of these are exclusive to followers of Jesus, although they are expected of His followers, but each is a small seed God can cause to grow into something quite wonderful! (Matthew chapter 4)