Advent - Luke Chapter 17

This is part of a series exploring Luke’s Gospel for the Advent season. One chapter a day for the first 24 days of December. (We’ll see how we go!) I hope you enjoy :)

- Jeff

The kingdom of God is within you, Jesus said to His disciples (Luke 7:21). (Or, is among you.) What does this mean?

I don’t know! But I have a few thoughts.

1. If you’re a citizen of a kingdom (in my case, it’s the United one), then that citizenship comes with certain privileges (protection of the state) and obligations (abiding by the law). “With great power comes great responsibility,” as Uncle Ben reminds Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man).

2. If a kingdom has borders, that means it is possible to be inside it. It also means it is possible to be outside it. Jesus is the door, in one analogy He gives (John 10). He provides the Way in.

3. It is possible to have dual citizenship. I am grateful to be a part of the Kingdom of God, but I am also very grateful to be part of the United Kingdom. Being a good citizen of one means being a good citizen of the other. Serving God means respecting the authorities He has set in place (Romans 13). (Remember when that passage was written.)

4. It is possible to be a naturalised citizen. We can call out to God as Father, becoming children by the Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15).

The Kingdom of Heaven is not one with banners and armies as we understand them. Our Lord’s banner over us is love (Song of Solomon 2:4).

It’s not visible, but we are. Let’s seek to demonstrate what it means to be a citizen in the places and times where we are placed.