This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world.

 

Friday, November 17, 2023


Psalm 40

2 Kings 18:1-16

Matthew 24:1-14


Observances: Hilda of Whitby, abbess (d. 680); Hugh, bishop of Lincoln (d. 1200)


This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world.


The Middle East is in war; but this is not yet the end. Europe is burning; but this is not yet the end. The last century had two world wars; but that was not the end. Not only do we hear of wars and of rumours and wars, but we all have a little device in our pocket that can show us exact, specific details of wars, updated every minute. But this is not yet the end.


How does the world end? Are we on a downhill slope? Will things just get worse and worse until God has finally had enough of our nonsense? Does this even sound like the God of the Bible?


The kingdom of heaven is like the smallest seed that grows into the largest tree; and we know that the kingdom of heaven is already here, growing every day. God is not God of the dead, but of the living, and His Son Jesus came so that we might have abundant life. Things do not get worse from here. They only get better.


God’s word is going out to the ends of the earth, and we know that God’s word does not return empty-handed. His word is the power of God, breathing life into those who were dead; turning hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.


Jesus Himself gave all of us the commission to go out to the whole world and preach the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of repentance from sins and forgiveness; it is a kingdom of peace, joy, hope and love. The gospel of this kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world – and then it will not be the end, but the beginning of something even more unimaginably wonderful.

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