“The Upside Down Kingdom”
This week in our “It’s Like This” series, Pastor Phil explained to us how the kingdom of heaven operates in a way that is very counterintuitive to what society usually looks like. Matthew 20 tells us that that leadership and servanthood are switched: “whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Our perceptions of rich and poor are challenged when Jesus tells us “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and Paul says “Though (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Being humble and proud carry different weights, according to Peter: “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Even death is backwards! Jesus tells us, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
Kingdom living is a higher calling such that our entire worldview has to be shifted. The following reminders prove helpful in living that out:
-Kingdom living is counterintuitive.
-Jesus in you is more important than You in you.
-Put His agenda ahead of your own.
-Take up your cross daily and follow Him.
