Published: 23-25/08/2022
23/08/2022
Do We Contribute to Preserve God's Kingdom?
The King of Kings, Jesus, stands before Governor Pontius Pilate, but Pilate is oblivious to this reality, for he is enthralled by the kingdom of gold (pride), frankincense (hypocrisy), and myrrh (pretense). Although Pilate's wife recognizes Jesus as the King of Kings, as recorded in scripture:
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19, NIV)
This indicates that Pilate's wife wholeheartedly accepts Jesus as the King of Kings and is therefore opposed to any harm befalling Him. She does not want any harm to come to Jesus, her King of love, kindness, humility, forgiveness, peace, compassion, empathy, endurance, tolerance, and patience. She knows that her King, Jesus, stands before the harmful Governor Pilate, the king of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Therefore, she contributes to preserving the love, kindness, humility, forgiveness, peace, compassion, empathy, endurance, tolerance, and patience of her King, Jesus. If we wish to bring God's kingdom into our lives and spread it to others, we must extend our hands, just as Pilate's wife did, to preserve love, kindness, humility, forgiveness, peace, compassion, empathy, endurance, tolerance, and patience, rather than harming them from the depths of our being.
25/08/2022
Is Jesus Truly Our King?
Jesus is the King of Kings, the King of all. To accept Him as our King, we need to humble ourselves before Him, acknowledging our sins and weaknesses, just as the three kings from the East did. However, earthly kings struggle to accept others as their king, as they are consumed by pride (gold), hypocrisy (frankincense), and pretense (myrrh).
Governor Pilate, too, failed to recognize Jesus as the King of Kings, blinded by his own pride, hypocrisy, and pretense. Interestingly, his wife acknowledged Jesus as the King, yet Pilate denied Him, asking, "Are you the king of the Jews?" (John 18:33, NIV)
Jesus gave Pilate an opportunity to accept Him as his King, asking, "Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?" (John 18:34, NIV) Despite his wife's testimony, Pilate declined, bound by his earthly throne and consumed by pride, hypocrisy, and pretense.
We, too, have heard about Jesus and His kingdom from our families, friends, and neighbors. Have we truly accepted Him as our King? Are we willing to surrender our own thrones of pride, hypocrisy, and pretense? Or do we merely recite, "Your Kingdom come!"
Continuing the Journey:
In our next article, we will delve deeper into understanding Lord's Prayer
Amen!
Praise be to God, Thanks be to God.
Not being Unrighteous is Religion!!
India! Peace be upon you!!
Peace to the whole world!!