Joy in the Laboring: Seeing the Kingdom Advance

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts
Isaiah 55:8-9

Have you ever thought to yourself, “This is not how I imagined life would go”? Often it is followed by a twinge of disappointment. However, today I would like to challenge you to look at it with joy and excitement. 

When I read the Gospel I can see where the disciples would have had the same thoughts, “I didn’t think this is what it would look like to be a disciple of a rabbi/teacher/the Messiah!” There were no cushy beds, they were pressed to minister to others at all times to the point they often couldn’t even eat a meal in peace. People were angry at them and wanted to stone the man they had devoted their life to. They were constantly questioned on their motives and righteousness. 

Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.' Many people were coming and going. They could not even eat. So they went away in a boat to a lonely place by themselves. The people saw them going. Many people knew them. The people ran from all the towns and got there ahead of them.
Mark 6:31-33

Then Jesus was beaten and crucified. I am certain they doubted the trajectory of their life as His body hung on the cross. This was not the story that had played out in their minds from childhood.

But then. 

Jesus rose from the grave, Holy Spirit came and filled and they walked in even greater signs and wonders than before. They saw the sick healed, the dead raised, demons cast out, and the Kingdom of God advance. They had a new perspective. They now knew that the Kingdom was not of this world, but was so much greater. It was breaking in and changing the very fabric of the world around them, advancing in a great display of God’s glory as more and more people came to a knowledge of the risen King of Kings. 

Our lives may not be easy, picturesque, or slow-paced, but if they display the Kingdom then they are so much better than we could have ever hoped or imagined. I pray that you find the greatest joy in co-laboring with Christ in seeing the Kingdom advance! 

 I pray that out of his glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21