Slices
Prepare
‘Your grace abounds in deepest waters / Your sovereign hand / Will be my guide / Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me / You’ve never failed and you won’t start now’ (Hillsong United, 2013). Prayerfully reflect on these words from the song ‘Oceans’.
Bible passage
The coming of the kingdom of God
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’
22 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 ‘Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 ‘It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 ‘It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding corn together; one will be taken and the other left.’
37 ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked.
He replied, ‘Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.’
Explore
Jesus is invited to enter the Pharisees’ debate about the kingdom of God (v 20). He offers two pieces of advice: don’t try to construct a timetable (v 20); don’t imagine the kingdom is merely in the future. The kingdom is here now (v 21)! Like the Son of Man in Daniel (v 24; Daniel 7:13,14), Jesus had already initiated a kingdom that will have no end.
However, the full impact of God’s reign – which will be obvious to all (v 24) – still lies in the future. Jesus must first die (v 25), then at some undetermined point in the future (vs 22,23), the kingdom will finally be established. The climax of history will take place in the context of normal daily life (vs 26–35). And, just as in Noah’s day, some will be taken in judgement, and others left behind to be with the King in his kingdom.
Those of us who long for God’s future rule (Revelation 21:3–5) must not allow disappointment in what we cannot yet see rob us of our excitement about what is promised.
Respond
‘Let your kingdom come, let your will be done on earth as in heaven.’ How can you play your part in this today?
Deeper Bible study
‘Course he isn’t safe. But he is good.’1
In this passage the Pharisees ask Jesus when God’s kingdom will come, not knowing that it has already arrived. Jesus clarifies that God’s kingdom is not like an earthly kingdom, with clear borders and centres of power. Instead, it is all about the work of the Spirit in people’s lives and communities. The activity of the kingdom of God is not in programmes or institutions, but in people’s hearts, for ‘the kingdom of God is in your midst’ (v 21).
Jesus then presents a litany of various disasters and suffering to illustrate an important point – nobody can really claim to find security in their possessions or what they own, for these things can be taken away so quickly. He then culminates this section by saying that whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, whereas whoever loses their life will preserve it. Once again, we see Jesus subverting cultural norms and values as he teaches about his upside-down kingdom.
This is a relevant message today. We find false security in so many worldly things – possessions, insurance, access to health care and many others. None of these things are wrong in themselves, but when we look to them for security, we often find ourselves in the twin traps of materialism and individualism: ‘My life is in what I have and own, and I work hard for me and my success alone’. God’s kingdom calls us to set aside these familiar cultural mindsets, lay down our lives in loving obedience and find security in God alone.
Where do you really find your security? As you learn to find it in God’s love and presence, rather than your abilities, belongings and faith, you will be liberated to live in Christ’s fullness of life and freedom.
1 CS Lewis, referring to Aslan, the Lion, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Geoffrey Bles, 1950 and later editions
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 10,11; James 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that the young people who attend the Mission United Faith In Life residential gathering run by local mission partner Missional Generation (who work along the M62 corridor) this month will be equipped to step out in faith and share Jesus and that they will see lives changed by the good news.
Scripture Union Global Week of Prayer
From 4-8 November, SU movements around the world are joining together in prayer for the work that’s happening in over 120 countries. We’ll be sharing the daily prayer themes here so that you can participate. More information and further resources can be found on the Scripture Union Global website.
Day 2: Countries threatened by new political situations or changing societies
• In many places around the world SU has an excellent reputation and wide-open doors for ministry in schools. Praise God for these opportunities and ask him to keep these doors open. Pray for our Movements to use these opportunities courageously and considerately.
• In some of these countries the climate is changing. New governments are restricting the open access that currently exists. New rules and regulations are challenging our Movements. Pray for open conversations with the government, that are bold and sensitive at the same time. Pray that governors get a new understanding of the value and benefit that SU ministries can bring to schools.
• Pray for wisdom and creativity in exploring new ways of ministry when former approaches fail. Pray for courage for Board members and national leaders to gracefully finish using ministry approaches that are not reaching the young generation any more, and that they will have the creativity to develop new styles and ways to engage children and young people with God´s word.
