SEPTEMBER 30
RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY
Romans 14:16-17
Then don’t let your good be slandered, for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (WEB)
Worldly standards can't measure the Kingdom of God. It’s not based on things like eating, drinking, or material possessions. It also isn't valued through systems of power or money. The values of the Kingdom directly oppose the values of the worldly system we live in.
In the Kingdom of God, the weak will confuse the strong, the poor will confound the rich, and the foolish will shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). As a matter of fact, Jesus told us in Matthew 18:1-4 that the true measure of the greatest in the Kingdom is the one who humbles himself like a little child. In Luke 18:16, Jesus clearly stated that the Kingdom actually belongs to little children.
So it should come as no shock to us that the things our God and Father truly values in the Kingdom are not based on our own natural ability or strength. In today's Scripture reading, we see that the markers of the Kingdom are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit! These are the things that God treasures in our lives.
Righteousness is our ability to maintain a right relationship with God through the finished work of Christ. Peace is one of the signs of the Spirit-led life, as Paul said in Romans 8:6... For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; (WEB). And the joy we experience does not come from us, but from God Himself, as we read in Nehemiah 8:10, which states... The joy of the Lord is your strength.
My prayer today is that we all begin to value what God values. He is not impressed with great accomplishments driven by independence and self-sufficiency, but He is pleased with the humble heart of a child. May we all see today through Kingdom eyes so that we genuinely reflect the Kingdom in everything we do.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (WEB)
Then don’t let your good be slandered, for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (WEB)
Worldly standards can't measure the Kingdom of God. It’s not based on things like eating, drinking, or material possessions. It also isn't valued through systems of power or money. The values of the Kingdom directly oppose the values of the worldly system we live in.
In the Kingdom of God, the weak will confuse the strong, the poor will confound the rich, and the foolish will shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). As a matter of fact, Jesus told us in Matthew 18:1-4 that the true measure of the greatest in the Kingdom is the one who humbles himself like a little child. In Luke 18:16, Jesus clearly stated that the Kingdom actually belongs to little children.
So it should come as no shock to us that the things our God and Father truly values in the Kingdom are not based on our own natural ability or strength. In today's Scripture reading, we see that the markers of the Kingdom are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit! These are the things that God treasures in our lives.
Righteousness is our ability to maintain a right relationship with God through the finished work of Christ. Peace is one of the signs of the Spirit-led life, as Paul said in Romans 8:6... For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; (WEB). And the joy we experience does not come from us, but from God Himself, as we read in Nehemiah 8:10, which states... The joy of the Lord is your strength.
My prayer today is that we all begin to value what God values. He is not impressed with great accomplishments driven by independence and self-sufficiency, but He is pleased with the humble heart of a child. May we all see today through Kingdom eyes so that we genuinely reflect the Kingdom in everything we do.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (WEB)