May 5, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Kingdom of God
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
This old world is fast closing in on the time when Jesus will return in all His glory. The times, and fulfilling of prophecy reveal His soon return.
Our text today we are again confronted with the religious crowd trying to trick, and trap, and condemn the Lord with questions.
Notice, they did not ask politely, they demanded. Often times demands are directed to force intimidation creating instant thought and instant answers making one vulnerable to inquisition. Jesus was not intimidated nor was He trapped. He simply gave them the truth.
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
The kingdom of God is not with observation. Do you know why it is not with observation? Only those who know the Lord Jesus Christ will see the kingdom. The lost, unsaved person, will never see the kingdom. It is not with observation to them. These religious pharisees would not see it unless they repented of their sin and turned to Christ. The Apostle Paul was a pharisee and he did trust Christ.
Jesus continued His answer when He said: Luke 17:21b Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
There you have it, the kingdom of God is within you. Every person has the opportunity of be a part of the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.
“The kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ is set up in the hearts of his redeemed. It is from the gift of God the Father, the finished salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the saving work of God the Holy Ghost. Hence Paul speaks of it, Rom 14:17-18.”
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
For the born-again believer, the kingdom of God is within our hearts for we have the knowledge of Christ. Our affection is in heaven from whence we look of our saviour.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Do you have the kingdom of God in your heart? Are you born-again? Do you know Jesus?
Christian, are you living in light of the coming kingdom?
Remember, the Lord said “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
The lost may see the Lord return (woe be that day) but they will never see the kingdom.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
