Luke 12:32-40
It's about putting your life in order.
It's about priorities right here and now.
Yes, Jesus will come again. Yes, we must be ready.
What does that mean?
It means, at least according to Jesus, if you believe Jesus (as Luke tells it)...
Putting our heart in the right place, with what we treasure.
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (see Matthew 6:19-21)
In the Kingdom, and according to Kingdom values,
knowing that it gives God pleasure to give us the Kingdom,
we value that above all else - the Love of God, the Grace of God.
In the Kingdom, living according to Kingdom values,
anything above what we need is not treasured as much as that love
and our love for Neighbor, so we give it away in alms for those in need.
In the Kingdom, we keep our priorities straight by
treasuring those things that really matter,
by putting in our heart those who God loves.
In the Kingdom, we humble ourselves willingly before our Lord,
submitting to the Lord in how we live and serve in this part of the Kingdom,
here and now, to be pleasing to our Lord now and when the Lord returns.
In THAT, we are ready for Jesus' return.
Empire values would have us take all we can for ourselves and ignore others or exploit them for it.
Empire values would have us gain and abuse power over others for our own benefit.
Empire values would have us make a name for ourselves at the expense of others.
Kingdom values demand that we give generously to those who are victims of empire.
Kingdom values require that we share power to raise the powerless victimized by empire.
Kingdom values lead us to know we are called to be servants and humbly serve those God loves.
What do you treasure?
Where is your heart?
Are you in alignment with the values of the Kingdom or the values of Empire?
Don't be afraid. It gives God pleasure to give you the Kingdom,
so put it in order, get with the program, live Kingdom values, resist empire,
treasure what God treasures, put your heart with God's heart.
Pastor Jamie
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