Kingdom living is an essential aspect of Christian discipleship. It revolves around the principles and values taught by Jesus Christ about the Kingdom of God. This concept goes beyond mere religious observance. It aims to transform every area of a believer’s life. This transformation aligns life with God’s will.
1. Seeking God’s Kingdom First:
- Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
- Prioritize God’s Kingdom and righteousness above all else. Trust that God will provide for your needs when you focus on His will.
2. Embracing the Beatitudes:
- Matthew 5:3-12: The Beatitudes outline the attitudes and characteristics of those who belong to God’s Kingdom. They include:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit: Recognizing our need for God (v.3).
- Blessed are those who mourn: Finding comfort in God during times of sorrow (v.4).
- Blessed are the meek: Demonstrating humility and gentleness (v.5).
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Seeking to live rightly and justly (v.6).
- Blessed are the merciful: Showing compassion and forgiveness (v.7).
- Blessed are the pure in heart: Maintaining moral and spiritual purity (v.8).
- Blessed are the peacemakers: Promoting peace and reconciliation (v.9).
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: Enduring persecution for the sake of the Kingdom (v.10).
3. Loving God and Others:
- Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
- Central to Kingdom Living is loving God completely and loving others selflessly.
4. Living by the Fruit of the Spirit:
- Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Show the fruit of the Spirit in your interactions and relationships, reflecting the character of Christ.
5. Practicing Forgiveness:
- Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
- Forgiveness is essential in Kingdom Living. We are called to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
6. Serving Others:
- Matthew 20:26-28: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Adopt a servant’s heart, putting others’ needs before your own, just as Jesus did.
7. Living Out the Great Commission:
- Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Be proactive in sharing the gospel, making disciples, and teaching others about Jesus.
8. Embracing Humility:
- Philippians 2:3-5: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
- Practice humility, considering others’ needs and adopting Jesus’ example of selflessness.
9. Demonstrating Faith and Trust in God:
- Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Place your total trust in God, seeking His guidance in all aspects of life.
10. Pursuing Holiness:
- 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'”
- Strive for holiness, reflecting God’s purity and moral integrity in your actions.
Let’s dig a little deeper with some practical ways to apply these points to our daily lives
I know it will feel repetitive. One way to help us embrace and walk in the necessary transformation is to make it a default habit.
1. Seeking God’s Kingdom First:
- Daily Priorities: Start each day with prayer and Bible study to set your priorities straight.
- Scripture: Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
- Intentional Living: Make decisions based on whether they align with God’s values and purposes.
- Scripture: Proverbs 3:6 – “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Thanksgiving: Regularly thank God for His provision and trust that He will meet your needs.
- Scripture: Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
2. Embracing the Beatitudes:
- Humility and Gratitude: Practice gratitude and recognize your need for God’s grace.
- Scripture: Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
- Empathy: Comfort and support those who are mourning or in distress.
- Scripture: Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
- Seek Righteousness: Be proactive in seeking justice and doing what is right.
- Scripture: Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
3. Loving God and Others:
- Time with God: Dedicate time each day to prayer, worship, and studying God’s Word.
- Scripture: Matthew 22:37 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
- Acts of Kindness: Show love to others through small acts of kindness, whether it’s a kind word, a helping hand, or a listening ear.
- Scripture: Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Forgiveness: Practice forgiving others, even when it’s challenging.
- Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
4. Living by the Fruit of the Spirit:
- Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your behavior and ask the Holy Spirit to help you show the fruit of the Spirit.
- Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Positive Environment: Surround yourself with positive influences that encourage growth in these areas.
- Scripture: Proverbs 13:20 – “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
- Patience Practice: When faced with frustration, take a moment to breathe and respond with patience and kindness.
- Scripture: James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
5. Practicing Forgiveness:
- Letting Go: When hurt or offended, choose to let go of the offense and seek reconciliation.
- Scripture: Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
- Pray for Others: Pray for those who have wronged you, asking God to bless and transform them.
- Scripture: Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
- Reconciliation: Take steps to reconcile broken relationships whenever possible.
- Scripture: Romans 12:18 – “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
6. Serving Others:
- Volunteer: Find opportunities to volunteer in your church or community.
- Scripture: Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
- Acts of Service: Look for ways to serve those around you daily, whether at home, work, or school.
- Scripture: Philippians 2:4 – “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
- Mentorship: Invest time in mentoring or helping someone who needs guidance and support.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
7. Living Out the Great Commission:
- Share Your Faith: Look for opportunities to share your faith naturally in conversations with others.
- Scripture: Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
- Disciple Making: Be intentional about mentoring and discipling others in their faith journey.
- Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
- Mission Support: Support missionaries and mission projects through prayer, financial support, or participation.
- Scripture: Romans 10:15 – “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”
8. Embracing Humility:
- Listen More: Practice active listening, valuing others’ opinions and perspectives.
- Scripture: James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
- Serve Anonymously: Perform acts of service without seeking recognition or praise.
- Scripture: Matthew 6:3-4 – “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
- Admit Mistakes: Be willing to admit your mistakes and learn from them.
- Scripture: Proverbs 28:13 – “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
9. Demonstrating Faith and Trust in God:
- Daily Trust: Trust God with your daily decisions and challenges, seeking His guidance through prayer.
- Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Scripture Affirmations: Use Bible verses to affirm your trust in God and combat anxiety and doubt.
- Scripture: Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
- Testimonies: Reflect on past experiences where God has been faithful and share those testimonies with others.
- Scripture: Psalm 66:16 – “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
10. Pursuing Holiness:
- Avoid Temptations: Find and avoid situations that might lead you into temptation.
- Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also offer a way out so that you can endure it.”
- Accountability: Seek accountability partners who can encourage you in your pursuit of holiness.
- Scripture: James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
- Purity Focus: Focus on pure thoughts, actions, and relationships, avoiding anything that corrupts your moral integrity.
- Scripture: Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Integrate these tips and scriptures into your daily routine. This will help you grow in your relationship with God. You can live out the principles of Kingdom Living in a meaningful way.
