Daily Devotional: Wednesday, November 29 - A Greater Kingdom

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” — Galatians 5:13

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In the Old Testament, the people of God looked around to other kingdoms and noticed something peculiar. It was as if every kingdom in the region was prospering and growing and had a king to lead them. God desired to be their King, but the people rejected God and instead wanted an earthly king to rule over them.

Tragically, what they found is that the majority of the kings that ruled over God’s people were eventually corrupted by the evil temptations of humanity, and they found themselves being ruled by a wide range of immoral idolaters.

The true measure of a king is not how many wars they win, how much their kingdom grows, or how wealthy the economy becomes under their rule. The true measure of a king’s effectiveness lies in the prosperity of their people, not their property.

This is why Jesus was so different. This King came to establish a new Kingdom, one that rust and moths couldn’t destroy, and one that flips earthly customs and cultures upside down. It is this same King, who stood and spoke creation into being, that kneeled and took the position of a slave and faithfully washed His disciples’ feet.

What would happen if, in a world where people find temporary fulfillment and freedom by accumulating wealth and followers, the people of Jesus would be committed to finding their ultimate value not in what they gain, but in how they serve?

— Reza Zadeh, Denver Broncos chaplain

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