If you take a look in your bible at Matthew 4:17 you will find some of the first words of Jesus as he began His ministry on earth. He said

“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Now we know Jesus was recounting the same proclamation as John the Baptist. Most people would immediately think that He is therefore calling for a repentance from sin. Yes, that is true but if you were to study out His earthly ministry you would see that Jesus rarely condemns anyone for their sin because he is aware of their condition and that is just what He has come to change.

So we need to see this word repent in its context. The Greek words it is derived from translate as “after” and “thought”
So repentance here is all about a change of mind or a change of thinking that has to come because the kingdom of God is hear.

Consider for a moment the condition of the Jewish race when Christ came on the scene. They were supposed to be the carriers of the life and power of God. However these events were in their past and not a present reality. They had become settled in their thinking following the traditions of the rabbi’s that had taken root over the years. It is not surprising that in mark 7:13 Jesus proclaimed to them that the handed down traditions of men had made the word of God of no effect.

As a result they were not ready for the Messiah and were preoccupied with the immediacy of the day. They were looking at life in the natural with a thought that nothing is going to change.

Now Jesus steps in and throughout His ministry cries out that it is time to change because the kingdom in all its power is right here. What is more Jesus goes on to teach and demonstrate what that kingdom means to them. He preaches the gospel of the kingdom and heals the sick, raises the dead, delivers the oppressed and provides the way to eternal life.

It is very easy for us to look back in hindsight on the events surrounding Jesus ministry on earth. However for us the kingdom has come. Jesus has died and risen again. As believers we do have eternal life. But what difference does that make to our daily life?

Have we renewed our minds to think like God thinks?
Are we thinking kingdom thoughts and acting like the power of the kingdom operates in us on a daily basis?

Yes, you have needs but the kingdom brings provision to meet those needs. Eternal thinking sorts out immediate thinking that worries about the present. If you think eternally then you will begin to see “well God has given me eternal life why don’t I trust Him to take care of that life and sustain it”

Romans 12:2 puts it this way “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”

The world’s system, the worlds way of thinking and the world’s possibilities will keep you dependent on circumstances and how things have always been. This scripture encourages us to change and think like what the word says about us. Then we understand the will and purpose of God for our lives.

I like the New Living Translation that puts this passage like this
“ Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think”

The kingdom contains everything you need to put you over in life and achieve all that God created you for. As I said last month you are programmed for victory. However we have to allow kingdom thinking and kingdom actions to permeate the fabric of our Christian life. Paul in Philippians 3 emphasises that we have a high calling in Christ and we have to press in to that. Changing our thinking to align ourselves with God’s word and therefore His thoughts is a key to breakthrough.

Have a great month.