War

The Kingdom of Heaven Slowly Rises

/ johngregoryjr / 1 Comment

The Beatitudes and the kingdom of heaven have been on my mind this weekend.

Not because I’m on a spiritual high. Actually, it’s more like my heart is being reshaped.

Recovering from direct and indirect wounds, I’m more inclined to respond in kind than bless, rage a war on kingdoms built in God’s name that do not bear the image.

War doesn’t bless; war would be a perversion of “your kingdom come.”

Maybe it’s not reshaping as much it’s yeast at work. The mixing and kneading is the kingdom of heaven slowly rising.

The song, the prayer, the promise, the hope is the simultaneous blessing and nudge, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward.”

Welcome yeast. Usher in the kingdom.

Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

The Awe Boundary

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

In chapter 2 of Awe, Paul David Tripp talks about war. He isn’t talking about political or international war. He’s talking about spiritual war, and a very personal war at that. 

…a war wages over who or what will rule and control the awe capacity that God has established within the heart of every human being.

This war started soon after man’s creation. This war started when man was tempted to step over the awe boundary to pursue becoming like God. 

This dangerous fantasy now lurks in the heart of every sinner. We want godlike recognition, godlike control, godlike power, and godlike centrality. This was the initial moment when awe of self overrode awe of God and set the agenda for every person’s thoughts, desires, choices, and behaviors. For billions of people ever since, awe of self has literally driven every selfish, antisocial, and immoral thing we do.

Can you see it? It’s all around us. We are in awe of ourselves. Everyone of us face this war. 

TRUTH: this is a war we will lose, now or later. For everyone’s sake, it’s best to surrender-to step back across the awe boundary every time we find ourselves on the wrong side. It’s a constant battle that cannot be ignored.

TRUTH: the war really has already been won. It’s why Jesus came. He’s worthy of our awe. Maintaining focus on awe of Him keeps you on the right side of the boundary.