Kingdom Mentality
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed,
The Son of Man, the Son of God,
His Kingdom come.
Jesus, redemption’s sacrifice,
Now glorified, now testified
His Kingdom come.
And this Kingdom will know no end,
And its glory shall know no bounds.
For the majesty and power
Of this Kingdom’s King has come.
And this Kingdom’s reign,
And this Kingdom’s rule,
And this Kingdom’s power and authority
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed.
Jesus, the expression of God’s love,
The Grace of God, the Word of God, revealed to us.
Jesus, God’s holiness displayed,
Now glorified, now justified, His Kingdom come.
And this Kingdom will know no end,
And its glory shall know no bounds.
For the majesty and power
Of this Kingdom’s King has come.
And this Kingdom’s reign,
And this Kingdom’s rule,
And this Kingdom’s power and authority
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed.
(Repeat Chorus)
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed.
Jesus, God’s righteousness revealed.
IN A RECENT CHAPEL SERVICE, the student worship leader in the seminary used this song by Geoff Bullock, the former worship pastor at Hillsong Church, Australia, at the close of the service. Earlier on, the student had been speaking about the reign of God and how we might live it out in reality.
I was impressed by his challenge to our community to look beyond the “spiritual” acts we do to the “social” actions that we ought to carry out in order to speak loudly of God’s kingdom to the world.
It is pointless to sing about Jesus being “God’s righteousness revealed” when we who are supposed to do the revealing to the world become ensnared with our own concerns at the local church or denominational level and plainly forget about the primary reason for our calling as members of the Body of Christ – to be the light and salt of this world. We are called to make a difference in the lives of others. Have we, are we?
“Let us make it a point to purposefully live our lives with the primary agenda of caring for and encouraging others.”
In the Singapore context, have we been active and purposeful in our love for our neighbours? In recent months, there appeared to be some tear in our social fabric with the significant influx of new immigrants whether they were temporary or permanent. Have we played our part to make God’s kingdom visible to them, the kingdom of peace, love, hope and justice?
Look around you now. Are there people whom you have conveniently ignored? Have you thanked the unassuming men or women who silently cleared the table where you sit at the kopi tiam or food court? Have you said “thank you”? Jesus reminds us in John 13: 34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Let us not just sing about Jesus being God’s righteousness revealed. We need to realise that with Jesus’ current personal and physical absence from this world, we are the “Jesus” that people around us see. God’s righteousness is revealed through us. So, let us make it a point to purposefully live our lives with the primary agenda of caring for and encouraging others. Shower those around us with God’s love.
Yes, they might rebuff your loving act but surely through this simple agape (selfless) act, you will give them a glimpse of the peaceable kingdom of God. Who knows, they may just choose to sign up to be the next citizen of this kingdom because of your love. Give it a try.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7ntHnUhwf8 accessed April 25, 2010.