Jesus said: “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:21
Notes for Contemplation as You Use this Devotional:
- In this passage from the section often titled “The Coming of the Kingdom” from the Gospel Writer Called Luke, Jesus explains where God’s kingdom is and when it will be revealed. In an attempt to stump Jesus, the Pharisees expect him to reveal a specific location, somewhere they can see in the world at an appointed time.
- Yet, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God (sometimes also called the Kingdom of Heaven) is an inner place, not one to be sought in the outer world of locales, possessions, property, and status.It’s your inner kingdom, found when you turn within and behold yourself as the Essence of God you are, filled with the same divine essence that was in Jesus.
- Jesus is a mystic, master teacher, healer, and wayshower for multitudes because he is a fully embodied, grounded spirit radiating his absolute divinity, living from the inside out. Everything he does is God-guided and God-directed. He knows his oneness with God (Higher Power, Supreme Being, etc.) as a beneficent parent. He emphasizes God’s ever-abiding grace, infinite compassion, and unconditional love for all people.
- The Kingdom of God that Jesus describes is your inner sense of your oneness with God. It’s a deeply felt appreciation for who you are and what you have that colors everything you do. So, you won’t find the kingdom in any outer place, although you may enjoy particular parts of the world as sacred places. Specific locales usually resonate with you because of what’s within you, not because of the place itself.
- This is why the “geographic cure” never heals your problems; you still carry your energy and intentions with you wherever you go. And if you don’t understand your motivations and needs, you tote unhealthy attitudes and behaviors everywhere. In comparison, when you know yourself (and all others) as one of God’s divine beloveds, you have the ability, for example, to turn the world on with your smile or make a potentially dull event into a party.
- Demonstration is your evidence of how well your life works. You demonstrate your power to live from the inside out when you can discern your feelings and thoughts for yourself.You live from within first because you know you always have a choice about how you’ll show up in the world.
Contemplation Questions:
As you reflect on your life and circumstances, ask yourself:
- In what, if any ways, have I sought the kingdom—my divinity—outside myself?
- List, word map, or illustrate whatever ways apply.
- What are my intentions for my life now?
- List, word map, or illustrate your intentions.
- What are at least three (3) ways I feel the kingdom—the divine—within me?
- List, word map, or illustrate all you feel.
- What are at least three (3) ways I can devote my energy to living from the inside out?
- List, word map, or illustrate all you imagine.
Use this devotional whenever you want greater self-awareness and self-connection. As you do, remember that you’re a divine spiritual being with a radiant soul, living in a sacred body temple, having human experiences. During your reflection time, avoid dredging up past failures. Honor your journey and know you did the best you could with what you had then. You’ve learned and grown from the experiences. Now follow your intuition and share the glory of your inner kingdom.
© 2024 – Rev. Jennifer L. Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo from Shutterstock by ArtBBNV.
