REVEALING GOD’S KINGDOM

A friend once shared with me his vision of our eternal heavenly kingdom as a time when we will get to see all the good differences we have made for others, especially the differences we may not have known.

I was reminded of this last week when writing a note of gratitude. I had recently discovered the podcast, The Stories Between Us, with Shawn and Maile Smucker. Their podcast includes interviews and conversations about the writing life, and each episode has inspired and motivated me to “Keep writing!” as they say. Their last episode was aired on June 1st, so I wrote to tell them that they may have finished their podcasts, but their good work would continue as I now listen and learn. I closed my email by sharing my friend’s vision of heaven with Shawn and Maile, adding, “Today, I want to give you a sneak preview on ‘this side of heaven’. You have made a good difference for me.” 

The next day I received a grateful email from Shawn, letting me know that my words of encouragement were just what they needed that week.

Jesus often said that the kingdom of God is here with us now. We can make this kingdom more visible each time we use our gifts to help one another; encouraging, comforting, enabling, accompanying. We can also point out more of God’s good kingdom by describing the ways we notice God’s presence in our lives; how we sense God is moving, where we see God in creation, what we hear God saying in our conversations and studies.

And we can reveal more of God’s kingdom by thanking those who have revealed a bit of it to us.

Maybe you remember a past kindness that now brings another smile. Or a dedicated teacher who encouraged you along the way. Or a friend who quietly listened. As different mentors, different moments come to mind, perhaps we are being nudged to let them know the ways they have made good differences in our lives. In returning their kindness, we are extending the goodness of the kingdom once again.

Through noticing, sharing, or returning God’s goodness and love, we help reveal God’s present and heavenly kingdom. Each small glimpse, each story of faith, each word of gratitude, helps to spread more of this eternal joy and gladness among us… within us… here and now.

If you would like to hear Shawn and Maile’s podcasts or check out their other offerings, visit: https://www.thestoriesbetweenus.com/

(Photo by Karen)