I have an awesome admin assistant. I asked her if she would be willing to take what I highlighted in the books I read and type it up for me. She agreed! I recently read a book by John Ortberg called God Is Closer Than You Think and the typed notes equalled 39 pages. Karen is awesome!
In looking back over these, a section of the book stuck out at me and I wanted to share this with you…
God, make up there come down here.
It can happen. Every time you are in conflict with someone, want to hurt them, gossip about them, or avoid them, but instead go to them and seek reconciliation and forgiveness—
The kingdom is breaking into this world.Every time you have a chunk of money and decide to give sacrificially to somebody who is hungry or homeless or poor—
The kingdom is breaking into this world.Anytime someone has an addiction and wants to partner with God so much that they’re willing to stop hiding, acknowledge the truth, and get help from a loving community—
The kingdom is breaking into the world.Every time a workaholic parent decides to stop idolizing their job, rearranges their life to begin to love and care for the little children entrusted to them—
The kingdom is breaking into the world.Every time you love, every time you include someone who’s lonely, every time you encourage someone who’s defeated, every time you challenge somebody who’s wandering off the path, every time you serve the under-resourced—
It is a sign that the kingdom is once more breaking into the world.When Jesus entered humanity, when the baby was laid in the manger, the kingdom of God had a tiny little beachhead in this world. He formed a little community; and when he left, there was a toehold in Jerusalem. Then it started to spread—to Judea, to Samaria, to Athens, to Rome. To every country. From ancient cathedrals in England to underground house churches in China to storefront churches in inner-city Detroit.
One day a little beachhead got formed in your life. It doesn’t matter whether your life seems messy to you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t fully understand how the kingdom works. Someone has come from the other side of the hedge. And he uses you and me.
God, in our world, make up there come down here!
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God, make up there come down here.
