The Upside Down Kingdom

“As I write this devotional, I'm here at Ellie's track meet.  It's fun but I get a little nervous as she competes in her various events.  Like every parent here at the meet, I want my child to do well but it's competitive.  Every student is striving to do their best.  Ellie does great as do all the students!  She doesn't come in first but she does her best!  It's wonderful to see the talent and desire of all the competitors at the meet.  I'm happy that there also seems to be a good sense of sportsmanship among the competitors; for in every race someone comes in first and someone comes in last.  Yet, they're all equally important. 

While winning is highly valued in the world's system, as Christ followers, coming in first is not the most important thing.  This is part of the upside down kingdom Jesus espouses.  In Matthew 20:16, He says, "The last will be first, and the first last."  This is a key teaching where status, earthly achievements, and pride are inverted from the world's standards.  God's scoreboard is literally the opposite of the world's.  We also see this in Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.  Just looking at the first three beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-5, Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

The "poor in spirit" are those who depend on God, not on themselves; they are poor inwardly, having no ability in themselves to please God.  Those who "mourn" recognize their needs and present them to the One who is able to truly help them.  Those who are "meek" are humble and gentle and have a proper understanding of their position before God.  The poor, the mournful, and the meek . . . not exactly the ones lauded by the world.  In fact, the world praises the opposite: the proud, the self-sufficient, and the bold.  None of whom feel the need to submit to God.  

In this beatitudes, we get a glimpse of God's scoreboard.  These are the ones He favors.  Praise God for His upside down kingdom that is not of this world; where He offers His grace and blessing to you and me.  Blessed are you when you are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, and humble (in other words, Christlike).  

In Christ,
Pastor Darren