The Reality of God's kingdom is within each of us

The Reality of God’s Gift is within us.

Think for a moment of the gift(s) you have received.  Are they really from the Holy Spirit or just a shadow of what you are endowed with?  I mean have you taken a particular talent that is calling you to become a beacon for others or a manner of becoming wealthy and popular for yourself.

It is true that each of us has some distinctive gift, no matter how great or small it may be, that is not for us to put in our back pocket.  God’s most luring purpose is to expand his Kingdom, beginning on earth. In order for that kingdom Jesus referred to we must first accept this reality and then put it into practice.  Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, Look, here it is, or, There it is, For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”  (Lk 17: 20 - 21).  

A footnote to this states, “the word among can be translated to within and the essence of Christ’s presence is very real.  

How are each of us taking the giftedness from the Holy Spirit and turning it into an attraction of finding the positive approach to God and our own salvation?  If for one moment we relish the applause or accolades we can receive for what we are as opposed to who we are will make a difference.  What any of us can perform in a particular manner that exalts us comes from what we are.  But it should promote who we are as God’s chosen vehicle to spread the gospel.    

After being ordained the most popular question from parishioners was “What can you do?”  And my response was, “It is who I am, as God’s emissary, to spread the gospel, not specifically what I am capable of doing.”  

Examine yourself by asking this question, “Am I using this talent to find a response from someone that refers to Christ and his reaching within your being to call others?”  If you are able to answer your quest with “I am.”  You are helping to spread the kingdom with a self-image of the Holy Spirit’s essence within you.  

Jesus was called Beelzebul after healing  a man from demonic possession.  His response to the Pharisees was, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.   And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?  And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?  Therefore they  will be your judges.  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”  (Mt 12: 25 - 28).  

Again, we see that the kingdom of God is already within us when the Spirit of God is allowed through us to be used for the spreading of the gospel, for truth.   This reaching through our giftedness will become the fruition of the gifts we receive, and the tenure of our life’s work.

Ralph B. Hathaway