PACIFIC KINGDOM - PART 4

FRIDAY 18 APRIL 2025

When I think of Pacific Kingdom, it reminds me that it starts with my inextricable union with Christ that established my peace and personal relationship with God, plus the unmerited gift of grace associated with my higher calling in Christ. To that effect, Pauline epistolary expression reads, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1 NLT). More below!

Reference: Hebrews 12:28 English Standard Version (ESV)

"Therefore, since we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe."

Let me begin today's article with a little attention drawn to the sequential structure of the referenced passage above:

Firstly, it's a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, meaning that it is not capable of being moved, weakened, or perturbed. It also denotes that its eternal truth, standard principles, exceptional rules, faith-based covenants and godly promises are immutable, or indicative of the verity that they are not vulnerable to change or doubt.

Secondly, Hebraic awakening indication points to the purpose of our belongingness to the Kingdom - in two distinct ways:

1. Let us show gratitude to God.

2. Let us offer to God pleasing service & acceptable worship with reverence and awe.

Both clear-cut ways are a connected method, and one sure and beneficial approach by which we can show our gratitude to God is by taking time today to deeply reflect on the indications of the purpose of events surrounding Christ's suffering that led to His crucifixion on a blessed day, like Good Friday. As you do so today, glorify our heavenly Father for His enabling grace given in Christ to redeem and transform us, and for ennobling us with Christ, at His right hand in this precious Kingdom we have received.

Over a thousand times, we have heard of the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross for the sins of mankind, and the great atonement that was made by it. That was a perfect service exerted by the Lord Jesus, which is pleasing to God. And over and over again, I have considered the versified statement numbered as Luke 22:42 when and where Jesus said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (NIV). Therefore, we can eagerly show our profound gratitude to God today concerning the truth that the Lord fulfilled the will of the Father on our behalf.

This also leads me to the expository knowledge of the second purpose for our belongingness to the Pacific Kingdom, which is:

Offering to God pleasing service.

We constitute the most obvious physical dimension of this Kingdom because we dwell on earth and live in earthen bodies, although as born again Christians, we are from above. Moreover, offering pleasing service to God starts by doing or fulfilling His will, just as the Lord Jesus did on earth. To instantiate this verity, Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me" (John 6:38 NLT).

A divinely-inspired and acceptable service will oftentimes find its expression through us, when we are ever willing to do and establish the will of the Father on earth - a beautiful part of our Lord's prayer based on a textual entreaty in accordance with Mathew 6:10 which reads, "May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven" (NLT).

Beloved, Jesus Christ intently acknowledged that it is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom (Luke 12:32 NKJV). Yes, this Kingdom has come and has been given to us in Christ. Therefore, our purpose as the new creation is to function as God's agency on planet earth by offering Him a pleasing service in the Kingdom of light according to His perfect will. Stay tuned for more in part 5. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Mark 15:37-47; John 11:25-26; Romans 6:8-11; Philippians 2:5-11.

Guided Prayer:

Thank you, my heavenly Father for your righteousness that became mine through my faith in the finished work of Christ in Jesus' Name, Amen!