by Rev Steve Nickodemus

I Don’t Want to Live in a Palace!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Looking at His disciples, Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Luke 6:20

Pictured is the Governor’s Palace in colonial Williamsburg.  It was spacious, grand, and ostentatious.  And this is only a governor’s palace.  Imagine a king’s palace; even more spacious, grander, and more ostentatious!

I have met several people who fantasize about living in a palace and being waited upon as royalty.  They cannot think of anything that could be better in this life.  But Jesus’ words above point out a startling truth, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

If you want to be in God’s kingdom, then being poor, that is, not being an earthly king or queen or duke or duchess, is of great advantage, for many of those who have lives of ease and opulence are far from God’s kingdom.  God’s kingdom is entered by acknowledging that God is king, not me.  God’s kingdom is entered by coming through the cross, through suffering, through humility.  God’s king is the Lord Jesus and He was not born in a king’s palace, but in a barn.  His kingdom is not about power and riches and control, but about God’s love and mercy and forgiveness.

Those who follow the Lord Jesus may not have lives of ease, but they have lives of true peace, of knowing that in every circumstance they can be content with what they have.  For the King loves them and died to save them and wants them to live with Him forever in an eternal kingdom that has no end.

King Jesus, thank you for saving me.  Thank you for the circumstances that I am in today.  Thank you that I am in your kingdom… Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado