Courage, Obedience, & the Kingdom of God

God seems to prefer to partner with us in bringing His rule and reign. He doesn’t snap his fingers and solve all our problems. He told Joshua he would give the Promised Land wherever they set their feet. But they had to fight for it.

Romans 10:13-15a (NLT2) ¹³  …“Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” ¹⁴  But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Our actions are vital.

How will the poor eat if we don’t help them?

How do we provide for ourselves and our families if we don’t work?

2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (ESV) ⁷ for we walk by faith(fulness), not by sight.

• In other words, we don’t usually see the outcomes of the choices set before us. But we can choose to make our choices faithfully.
• What does it mean to walk faithfully?

Mark 4:26–34 (ESV) The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

²⁷ He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. ²⁸ The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,

³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

• If we will be obedient and faithful, the influence of God in our lives, our families, and our communities will be greater than we can imagine.

2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (ESV) ⁶ So we are always of good courage.

On every occasion,

and in every situation,

we have confidence and firmness of purpose

in the face of danger or testing.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

• We have to exhibit good courage in the challenges we face.

We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight.

⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

May his kingdom come

and his will be done

on earth

as it is in heaven. Amen.