Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.
Luke 17:20-21

When? When will we see the reign of God? The Pharisee asked, but he is not the only one who has asked. Some folks are out here praying for it “to come,” but Jesus says, “Look, here it is!” So, what exactly are we waiting for? We can wonder if Jesus is telling us that spending all our time looking for signs is futile, and we will be so busy looking for the sky to start falling that we will miss the presence of God’s reign here and now. Could he be saying that it starts with us…When we put our hands to the plow and start preparing to plant seeds, the kindom of God will grow?

Kindom is a concept we will explore in greater detail this Sunday. “Kindom of God: Within Us, Among Us” is the theme for the 2023 General Assembly of our denomination, at the end of July. We will engage with greater intentionality what this means and how are keeping the will and presence of God among us. The reality is, God’s expansive love connects each of us as “kin” and to each part of the larger kindom of God.

Kindom is not evidenced by the number of church buildings, church members, and religious organizations that exist in God’s name, but rather by the healing works we do (physically and systemically). Kindom, we are evidenced by how we treat the widow and the orphan. The evidence is in how we seek justice and walk humbly with God. The evidence is of how we treat the least among us. “When will we see the reign of God?” When we realize God is to be experienced on earth. God is here, inside of us. We don’t have to wait for what Jesus has already revealed!

I give credit for words and inspiration for this devotion to the preparation materials called “Kin Curriculum” put out by the General Office of our denomination.

Brett