Luke 17:20-37

Be Still: Lord, teach me to be still this day and rest in you. Make me aware of your presence. Amen

Read: Luke 17:20-37

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. (v33)

Encounter: Pete Hughes, pastor of King's Cross Church, often uses the phrase ‘we live in the now and the not yet.’ In our present reality, the Kingdom is at work in the world in anticipation of the day when Jesus returns and all things are made new. We live with the knowledge that there will be suffering in this world, but the light is breaking in now — and we live in the hope of what’s to come.

When the Pharisees asked when the kingdom would arrive, Jesus stated it would not come with outward signs. He declared that the Kingdom of God is ‘in your midst’. God is already at work through his church and heaven is invading the earth. 

But we also live in the tension of the future hope that is to come when Jesus returns with flashes of lightning across the sky. In the time of Noah and Sodom people were just going about their daily routines eating, working, and were completely caught off guard by God's dramatic intervention. 

In the same way we will be going about our daily routines of the 9-5, family matters, eating, sleeping, working, when his promised return happens. But, before then, in ordinary day to day interactions, we can live with a heavenly perspective knowing what’s to come and what really matters. All our earthly possessions and ideas will be insignificant at the glorious return of King Jesus. The upside-down way of the Kingdom is we surrender our life to save it eternally, giving back everything to God. 

Apply: What kind of perspective are you living with? One that is eternal and kingdom-focused or one that is focused on earthly things. How could living in anticipation of Jesus' return shift your day-to-day routine or week? 

Devote: God, I give my daily routine, possessions and ideas to you. Help me to gain a heavenly perspective of your Kingdom invading the earth.