Thy Kingdom Come

Travelling for the sake of missions is an eye-opening experience.  Going from a place where poverty is basically non-existent to a place where the same could be said of wealth, is like being transported into another era.  Things look different, smell different, taste different.  The people look different, act different, live differently than us.  Bigger and better traded for smaller and simpler.  Luscious and green traded for dry, bare and desolate.

But something happens in the midst of all of this juxtaposition. (my grade 8 LA teacher would be so proud!)  A faint glimmer of similarity rises up among us, black ,white, short, tall, English, Spanish, Indian, Ukrainian.

I saw it during worship services in every country I have been in.  I saw it in the driveway of a church in Krasni Mak, Ukraine, as we sang outside because the power had gone out in the hall.  I saw it in a small rooftop church in India that made me think of the Acts church meeting in the upper room.  I saw it in a dusty, dirt-floored, ramshackle church in Mexico.  Something that unites us all.  Are you ready?

it was the KINGDOM.

Floating around as we sang in the open air to nothing but a single, non-amplified guitar.

 As we sang familiar songs in a foreign land.  With many instruments or none, in tune or out.

You know what I have discovered?  The Kingdom of God knows no bounds.  I realize that I have known this in my head for years, but it is different to witness it first hand.

The Kingdom of God is not bound by borders, by culture, by race or language.

The Kingdom is in us, as believers, AROUND THE WORLD.  And this is not an easy concept.  We tend to think of the Church as OUR church, our community of believers, our city or town.  We read bible verses and think they apply only to us, because this is what we know and see.

But when you step out of your area and enter another, perhaps half a world away, you begin to see that they, too, are included in who the Bible is addressed to!

When I was in India we sang "God of this City"

"You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation, you are

You're the light in this darkness

You're the hope to the hopeless

You're the peace to the restless, You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like You, God

Greater things have yet to come

and greater things have still to be done in this city"

I realized 2 things in singing this song. The first was, "oh my goodness, is it ever evident that these people MEAN what they are singing!"  Their passion for their city and their nation was incredible, challenging and contagious.  My second thought was, as we ALL sing this song, we are addressing the WORLD!

The Kingdom is not bound by geography.

There are many things to consider when going overseas.  Dress code, how people demonstrate love, affection, emotion...these things really differ by country.  But God is constant!  He is the same in India as He is in Ukraine, as He is in Spain, Mexico, and Canada!  We, the Church, are a united people, whether we realize it or not.

I believe there is a lesson to be learned from this.  In Romans 12:2 Paul says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

We cannot let our culture bind us.

It's not about our culture. Paul says not to copy the customs of this world! It is about the Kingdom, it is about spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  It is about Jesus.  And by letting God transform you into a new person, your eyes will be open and you will learn to hear His voice!

The Kingdom is what allows us to spend a week in Mexico developing a bond with 2 families who we cannot verbally communicate with.

The Kingdom is what draws Hindu people in India to accept the Lord.

The Kingdom enables us to heal the sick, to see the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear!

The Kingdom is here.  It is inside of us.  And all God wants us to do is to release it.

I don't want to be bound by my culture.  I don't want my traditions, teachings, logic, etc to dictate what I do for the Lord.

I am a disciple of Christ, I carry the Kingdom with me everywhere I go.  My culture is a Kingdom culture.  It unites, bonds, draws near, knits together people of every tribe, tongue and nation.  It is exciting to be part of a global force, united in expanding the Kingdom!  

The Kingdom is here, waiting for your words and actions to release it.

Step into the Kingdom culture

one day at a time,

Darcie.