THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR
Luke 10:9 NKJV
9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Jesus was sending out seventy disciples to go into the cities where He was coming. He sent them out two by two which tells us that there are to be no solo artists in the Body of Christ. Jesus told them that the harvest was great, but there were not enough laborers, and to pray for the Lord to send more laborers. And that is still a good prayer to pray. Especially when it comes to our friends and loved ones who are away from the Lord. Pray that God would send laborers across their path.
Jesus then gives these seventy instructions on how to handle themselves as they go. There are interesting directives here. Another interesting note is that there were seventy followers of Jesus besides the twelve that could be sent out. We often think of Jesus' followers as only being the twelve apostles, but there were many more.
Jesus sent them to reach out to these cities, but He also instructed them to heal the sick. And after the sick had been healed, to let them know the Kingdom of God has come near. That is encouraging. The Kingdom of God involves the healing of people who are sick. Jesus wanted the people to know they were healed because the Kingdom of God had shown up in their lives.
APPLICATION
Different countries have different cultures. When I was in Romania twenty-plus years ago, it was not uncommon for men who were friends to walk arm in arm. That was a bit of a culture shock for me, but there was nothing cringeworthy about it. Simply a different culture. The culture in Romania was very different from the culture in Guyana, a country in South America that I have visited.
A constant learning experience for those of us who are believers in Christ is coming to understand the culture of God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom is a loving Kingdom, not one where selfishness is the norm. Our King gave His life for us not because we earned it but because of love. God's Kingdom is an honorable Kingdom, not one of rebellion. A Kingdom of humility, not a Kingdom where pride is valued. A Kingdom of joy, not sadness and gloom. A Kingdom of peace, not turmoil and strife.
And God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of healing and wholeness. We certainly expect to find that when we enter heaven, but healing is available to us before we get there. Jesus instructed us to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no sickness, disease, or brokenness in heaven, and when Jesus brought the Kingdom of God near to the people there was healing and wholeness that overwhelmed the darkness that existed before. Whenever the Kingdom of God comes near, people are much better off.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You that I am a part of Your Kingdom, a citizen of the Kingdom of God. And thank You for the healing and wholeness that were a part of Your Kingdom when you walked the earth and are still a part of Your Kingdom today. You have never changed, and Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and it never changes.