The Upside-Down Kingdom
"But many who are first will be last, and the last first." — Mark 10:31
Does God's way ever seem backward to you?
Many of the concepts of the Lord are inverted. An example is, "Give and it will be given to you." Our world says, "No. You had better take it and keep it." Jesus says, "You need to let it go."
The same thing is true in almost every arena of the Christian life. God's kingdom operates on completely different principles than the world's system.
The world says accumulate. Jesus says give away. The world says climb to the top. Jesus says serve at the bottom. The world says promote yourself. Jesus says humble yourself. The world says get revenge. Jesus says forgive. The world says love those who love you. Jesus says love your enemies. The world says the greatest are the leaders. Jesus says the greatest are the servants.
Jesus said, "You guys don't get it. The person who is the greatest among you is not the leader, but rather the servant."
This runs completely against our culture. Everything in us wants to rise, to be noticed, to be first. But Jesus says the path to greatness runs through the valley of service.
Are you willing to live by upside-down principles?
Are you willing to give when the world says hoard? To serve when the world says lead? To forgive when the world says retaliate? To humble yourself when the world says self-promote?
This is what sets believers apart. We operate by a different playbook. We live by kingdom principles that make no sense to the watching world.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Stop trying to succeed by the world's standards. Start living by the upside-down principles of the kingdom. That's where real life is found.
Does God's way ever seem backward to you?
Many of the concepts of the Lord are inverted. An example is, "Give and it will be given to you." Our world says, "No. You had better take it and keep it." Jesus says, "You need to let it go."
The same thing is true in almost every arena of the Christian life. God's kingdom operates on completely different principles than the world's system.
The world says accumulate. Jesus says give away. The world says climb to the top. Jesus says serve at the bottom. The world says promote yourself. Jesus says humble yourself. The world says get revenge. Jesus says forgive. The world says love those who love you. Jesus says love your enemies. The world says the greatest are the leaders. Jesus says the greatest are the servants.
Jesus said, "You guys don't get it. The person who is the greatest among you is not the leader, but rather the servant."
This runs completely against our culture. Everything in us wants to rise, to be noticed, to be first. But Jesus says the path to greatness runs through the valley of service.
Are you willing to live by upside-down principles?
Are you willing to give when the world says hoard? To serve when the world says lead? To forgive when the world says retaliate? To humble yourself when the world says self-promote?
This is what sets believers apart. We operate by a different playbook. We live by kingdom principles that make no sense to the watching world.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Stop trying to succeed by the world's standards. Start living by the upside-down principles of the kingdom. That's where real life is found.
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