11. Although God is King of His Kingdom, His authority is unlike any human authority; He never forces or manipulates me, and His leadership is always for my good.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
Think of a time when you were made to do something you didn’t choose at work, school, or a similar situation. Consider how this made you feel. Do you ever have a similar feeling when you think about God?
Now remember a time when someone you respected gave you affirmation and approval. Reflect on this feeling. Can you imagine having this feeling with Jesus?
People who followed Jesus seemed to enjoy being around Him and grew to love Him deeply. What do you think it was about Jesus that made people want to be with Him? How might this be an invitation to you, from Jesus?
Knowing in our minds that God loves us and wants what is best for us is not the same as experiencing or feeling that God loves us and desires our good. Take some time to invite God to give you a picture, a word, or even a feeling of how He loves you.
The concept of “Kingdom” can trigger some ideas for us that are not always accurate or helpful. We might think of historical kingdoms and the battles and strife of those kingdoms. Many modern kingdoms seem to be governed by oppressive rulers and systems. And even the modern realms that seem to have better political systems may still engage in wars, impose unfair laws, and fail to provide the “good life” for all of their citizens. So, the language of King and Kingdom when applied to God may create obstacles to imagining the goodness that Jesus describes.
A proper understanding of the beauty of God’s Kingdom begins by understanding the nature of God as King. Whether current or historical, our examples of kings and kingdoms fall short of showing us the goodness of God as King. No human authority comes close to reflecting the kind of King God truly is. The best example of the kind of King that God is can be found in the life of Jesus.
As a leader, Jesus never forced or manipulated people to do what He wanted. Rather, Jesus modeled a kingship that served others and gave up authority and power. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us an example of a King that would give up everything for His people. Jesus teachings and life show us a model of Kingship that refuses to use violence or force. Jesus’ leadership showed how to put others first.
Jesus’ leadership was a relational leadership; He lived in a deep and authentic relationship with His followers that gave Him an authority based on their love for Him, not on their fear of Him. This is an important point about God and His Kingdom.
The King has a personal relationship with each person in His Kingdom, and His authority is based on that relationship, not on a system controlled by power. It is impossible for us to fully understand the words “Kingdom” and “King” as they are expressed in God and His Kingdom. The goodness of God’s leadership will always exceed what we can imagine.