Christmas Advent Bible Reading Plan: Jesus Is BornSampel

To Bring God's Kingdom to Earth

Today’s reading paints an image of multiple kingdoms in Daniel’s prophecy to King Nebuchadnezzar. He tells the king that there will be four earthly kingdoms characterised by inadequacy and division but that God would raise up a heavenly kingdom that could never be destroyed. In chapter 7, Daniel had a vision of the Saviour coming to consummate the heavenly kingdom: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

As Christians, we live in a tale of two kingdoms - our earthly kingdom - fraught with injustice, disease, fear, greed & broken humanity - and our heavenly kingdom - where He shall reign forever with peace, justice, love and mercy (John 18:36). And here we live in the tension between our two kingdoms: the one we physically inhabit now, and the one that is coming. Both matter. We cannot live our lives as if the earthly kingdom will completely vanish, nor can we ignore the coming kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15).

As believers, we are to partner with Christ as He ushers in more and more of heaven here on earth. We should live as if we are citizens of that heavenly kingdom now, even as we inhabit the earth.

Come, Lord Jesus; until You do, let it be on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Prayer

God, come and invade our earthly kingdom today. We pray Your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Show me how to outwork your Kingdom on earth in my everyday. In Jesus' Name, Amen.