7 Minute Read
Be Still
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a couple of minutes to breathe deeply, to quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, prayerfully ask the Lord to speak to you in this time and let Him know that you will be listening and will make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Today’s Bible Reading:
Daniel 7:1-28
1 John 1:1-10
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 28:23-24
Listen to the Lord
Slowly and reflectively read the following verses and listen to what God will say to you through them. Then, consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT): “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His Kingdom will never be destroyed.”
Reflections from Scripture:
Daniel 7:13-14 is an Old Testament account of what every follower of Jesus is longing for! We want to experience these truths!
To make sure we understand who and what is being discussed, let’s first define the persons in our text. The “Ancient of Days” is God the Father. The “son of man” is obviously talking about Jesus.
So, that’s the “who.” Now, let’s talk about the “what.”
Daniel 7:13-14 talks about a time when Jesus comes before the Father. The Father will give Him the right to rule a kingdom that will last forever.
So, who makes up the Kingdom? “People of every race and nation and language.” Every single people group that has ever walked the face of this earth will be represented in this gathering. But – and this is important – only those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation will be in this Kingdom.
So, when does this Kingdom start? It already has! When you got saved, you became a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), and you became a member of the Kingdom (Luke 17:20-21). You received Jesus as your Savior but also as your Lord (Master/King). You are called to submit to and serve King Jesus for the remainder of your life on earth because you are in His Kingdom.
But, what is the ultimate and final expression of the Kingdom? Simply read the last two chapters of Revelation. The New Jerusalem will come down out of Heaven upon a brand New Earth. That is Heaven! No sin. No sorrow. No death. Instead, it will be populated with people who have submitted themselves to the authority of King Jesus and will be free to enjoy Him, enjoy others, and enjoy His new creation forever.
In a nutshell, that’s the Kingdom. So, the question remains for today: “Will you live today as a citizen of the Kingdom? That means that you will realize that you are called to submit to, enjoy, and serve King Jesus. Will you do that today?” If your answer is “yes,”… Fantastic!
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me. But I don’t want to wait until Heaven to enjoy life in the Kingdom. I’m already in it. So, today, by Your power and with Your grace, I will live as a citizen of Heaven’s Kingdom. I will submit to You, enjoy You, and serve You. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.
Matt’s Musings 