Just Keep Receiving His Kingdom

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

When I first pondered this powerful verse, I was convinced that the Kingdom of Heaven was a realm that I had to search for. Of course, the word "search" in this translation renders the Greek word "zeteo" which also means "desire" or "inquire" as in "ask for" the Kingdom of Heaven.

This reading makes more sense within the harmony of Scripture, for Jesus said in another gospel:

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" ("Luke 11: 13)

and

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)

and

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17: 21) 

So, Jesus comforts us in relating time and again that the Kingdom of Heaven is something that we receive!

Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, presents the complete definition of the Kingdom, realized by the Finished Work of Jesus Christ:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

Righteousness is the first and crucial element in the presence of the Kingdom in our lives, because without a perfectly clean, sinless, and right standing before God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), the Holy Spirit could not reside in us.

Righteousness is a gift which we receive as a result of faith in God's grace (Ephesians 2; 4, 8-10):

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

In this verse, "Receive" is in the present, active participle, meaning that a more proper translation would read "they who are receiving".

God wants us to grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18), to receive in life as often as we can, by faith, this gift of righteousness, a blessed treasure which permits the Holy Spirit to live in us, grant us His fruit, and lead us according to God's will (Galatians 5: 16; Philippians 2; 12-13)

Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven is not a place far away from us which we strive to find, but a gift that we keep receiving!

Keep receiving this gift of God's reign, love, and life!