February 19

“For lo, the kingdom of God is within [margin: in the midst of] you.” Luke 17:21

What did Jesus mean when he said these words to the Pharisees? He simply meant: “l am standing here.” We all know that the kingdom of God could not be “within” the Pharisees, but on that day the kingdom was in their midst because its King stood among them. The presence of the Lord Jesus implies the unfettered rule of God. Where he is, the kingdom is.

Redemption has made us, too, into a kingdom (Revelation 1:6). Not only where the Lord Jesus is, but where his Church is, there is also the kingdom of God. This is the place where he is free to exercise his authority. He must have a sphere, provided here by us, for his kingdom, his power, and his glory to have free course. For us the important thing is not our future reward or supposed position in the kingdom: it is our fulfillment of the Church’s role of bringing his kingdom down among men in the earth today.