Appropriating The Kingdom

TEXT: MATTHEW 11:1-15

Key verse: “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11).

Making heaven at last after leaving this sinful world is not the exclusive preserve of a few people. The kingdom of heaven is for as many as would believe the gospel and take it seriously.

In our text, Jesus Christ knew the impact the teaching and preaching of the gospel would have on the lives of the people, and therefore devoted much of His public ministry to it. Before this time, John the Baptist really prepared the hearts of the people for the coming of the Lord by preaching repentance from sin. Many of the publicly recognised sinners had believed John, while the Scribes and Pharisees rejected the message of life that could have given them eternal life. Though Christ praised John and his exploits, yet He (Christ) emphasised that he that would be born again through the scriptures, shall have a better heritage than John in God’s kingdom - yet as by violence. Christ was saying in essence that to be born again and continuing, as a believer requires a great measure of seriousness and determination.

For one to profess that he believes the gospel without seriously laying aside every weight, and the sin which does easily besets him, is an indication that such an individual has not determined to make heaven. One needs to be violent against sin and be seriously committed to holy living. Being religious like the Scribes and Pharisees without truly accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour, makes the idea of getting to heaven like building one’s castle in the air.

As you make up your mind today to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and maintain a closer walk with Him, remember that you are entering into a lifelong journey of obedience, trust and courage. It takes these to ward off the string of intimidating obstacles, which the devil will want to put on our way to deny us of the eventual laurel. And it is only those who endure till the end that will be saved.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Nothing is impossible for the willing heart.