ChristianNews
Major department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue in New York have large display windows. In these windows are placed mannequins. These dummies are impeccably attired based on the season and the fashions being focused on. The reason the owners of the department stores place these mannequins in their store windows is to advertise what their store has to offer the broader public. The mannequins exist for something greater than themselves. They exist and are attired to advertise something bigger than themselves.
Even so, God saved us and blessed us not merely for ourselves alone, but as kingdom disciples, we are to serve as God’s advertising agency of His greater kingdom. God wants His people to make His kingdom, so attractive that people don’t just admire them, but are drawn into His kingdom because of how impressive we look and live as official representatives of the kingdom. This is why the primary concern of disciples of Jesus Christ must be the prioritization of God’s kingdom.
A kingdom disciple is a believer who takes part in the spiritual development process of progressively learning to live all of life under the lordship of Jesus Christ. But to live all of life under Christ presumes that you know and apply what Christ desires you to do in your life. And where better to hear His heart on discipleship than in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7).
For starters, the centerpiece of Jesus’ sermon revolves around one verse. In fact, this one verse is the centerpiece of kingdom living altogether.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Discipleship is first and foremost a kingdom issue. Kingdom means “rule” or “authority.” To be a kingdom disciple is to learn to comprehensively submit yourself to the rule of God in every area of your life. It is the pursuit and prioritization of the kingdom that is the chief concern of discipleship.
May we all focus on submitting every area of our life to the rule of God!