There is great concern in the world today about “kingdoms of this world.” The “kingdoms” of Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, United States, Canada, Mexico, China, and many other countries caught up in conflict are mentioned in the media daily.
But what is the most important kingdom of all?
I went to the teachings of Jesus Christ for insight.
Jesus is quoted as using the word kingdom 55 times in the book of Mathew in the King James translation of the Bible. In studying the focus of his attention, it is fascinating to see that his primary concern was not about preserving worldly kingdoms and political dynasties. His focus was clearly on living in the one kingdom over all, the Kingdom of Heaven!!
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33) he instructed.
“Thy kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10), he taught us to pray.
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7), he said.
He begins numerous parables with “The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field,” “a merchant man seeking goodly pearls,” “like unto a net cast into the sea,” and more.
So, in praying for peace in the world, I ask myself, “What kingdom are you praying to realize?” A temporal kingdom that comes and goes, or the Kingdom of Heaven that is here to stay?
And in answering, I vote for the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s a place where everyone can find common citizenship in the one Mind of Love.
So well put and so well timed Evan! Christ Jesus healed many individuals and proved the power of the knowledge of Principle over many material barriers. But his message was for the whole of mankind, as we must always strive to do in our daily prayers. This piece today is very commanding …Thank you.
I’d like to add a little note to yesterday sending hugs to Rose of New York for her Special Day.
Hugs and Love to everyone….’’his arm encircles me, and mine , and all ‘’❣️
Thank you kindly dear Barbara for your hugs and good wishes, blessings to you. Being here with Evan and our SpiritViewers can make every day special.
Evan thank you for clear guidance on how to direct our prayers for recognizing the true Kingdom, which is peaceful and intact.
We are ALL brothers and sisters in God’s great plan of divine Love.
Thank you for the timely reminder Evan.
Peace on earth and goodwill to ALL mankind!
Thank you for a sensible solution to heartache, disappointment, you name it, whether financially or in matters of health. To pay attention to Jesus now, as then, is the answer to harmonizing daily living..
Thank you, Evan. This SpiritView provides a message of inspiration that all of mankind needs to hear and it reminds us to stay focused on the healing message of the Christ. It is so so needed today more than ever.
In answering Pilot, Jesus also said “my kingdom is not of this world.” I love this!
Thank you Vicky!
I love it too!
AMEN
Having worked elections in my community, I LOVE the idea of voting for the Kingdom of Heaven. What a wonderful way to participate in our never ending spiritual experience with God.
In gazing at the awesome photo and it’s reflection of beauty and Peace …That is
the kingdom I wish for us all. And one of the definitions I had looked up in the
dictionary – for kingdom .. is “the spiritual reign or authority of God. The rule of God
or Christ in a future age”. The kingdom of God is Within Us..Now. Which would
mean, wouldn’t it? – that it depends on what we are Thinking, as to what is happening
in our world. Mrs. Eddy inspires, on pg. 96 of S&H, ” Love will finally mark the hour
of harmony, and spiritualization will follow, for Love is Spirit … This material world is
even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord
and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace. The breaking up of
material beliefs may Seem to be famine and pestilence, want and woe, sin, sickness,
and death, which assume new phases until the end of error, when all discord will be
swallowed up in spiritual Truth”.
This heavenly kingdom is as Evan, so rightfully states, is “a place where everyone can
find common citizenship in one Mind of Love”. What a lovely goal to strive for.
I often ask myself “what state do I live in?” Do I live in the stat of Oklahoma, Alaska, Ohio? Do I live in the state of confusion, fear, indecisiveness, lack? The answer is NO to all the above and any similar suggestion. I live in the “state” (consciousness) of Love, purity, right thinking and acting, holiness, abundance, freedom. It is a beautiful practice that sets me soaring in the Kingdom of Heaven!
Thank you Evan for sharing your spiritual insight
I love what you have written here, Sherry. Thank you. Our state, is the state
of Mind – that we Lve in. Mrs. Eddy’s definition of Kingdom of Heaven is:
“The reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and
omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme”.
Thank you all for bringing this state … of Mind … into harmony here and thus,
within our entire world, where Love shines and is ever present.
I also like to associate the concept of Climate to the K of H: our spiritual, mental HOME. Verse 3 of Hymn 75 came immediately to mind: “To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows, ascend. His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end. The time of tide shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand forever: His change-less name of Love.”
A Kingdom is
Kindness | Independence | Nobility | Good Government | Dominion | Order | Moral Might
“Mentally insist that harmony is the fact, and that sickness is a temporal dream. Realize the presence of health and the fact of harmonious being, until the body corresponds with the normal conditions of health and harmony.” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, pg 412
That was citation 22 in the Bible Lesson for last week and I enjoyed that lesson so much I was reading it again just now and this citation jumped out at me. I thought to myself, do I really REALIZE the presence of health when I see illness or disease in myself or others? Do I REALIZE the presence of harmony when material sense presents a picture of discord? I had to admit that I don’t do that most of the time, but Mrs. Eddy is instructing us to do just that. Then it occurred to me that the world would argue that someone who does that is CRAZY…literally mentally ill. But as Evan pointed out today, Jesus did that. So if I want to be like Jesus and do the works he did of helping people realize harmony (heaven) is right here even though material sense sees a very discordant world, then I too need to be willing to go against the world’s belief and accept the fact that I’m in heaven (perfect harmony) right here and right now and that everyone else is too!
I was experiencing a headache when I read the citation above just now and after I accepted the present presence of health, the headache was no more. I should also explain that I realized there was no matter to produce a headache, so it was just the thought of a headache that I was experiencing. I also realized a thought, or belief, of a headache could be immediately put out of thought by realizing that thought of a discordant headache was not produced by God and by realizing the presence of health was really all that was present, So I accepted the presence of health and that’s what I started experiencing. I’m so grateful Jesus shared with us that we are in heaven (the Kingdom of Harmony) right now and I’m so grateful that Mrs. Eddy took the time to explain to us how to make that practical in our experience.
Wow RobertH, thank you for the clear description of your thought and demonstration.
You are right that ‘world thought’ would see us as crazy to be declaring that Harmony is the present fact, in the face of totally discordant material appearances. But that is our duty and our privilege in CS, to see (realize) – both for ourselves and for others and for the world, the true spiritual substance and true nature of things below the surface appearance. To see what God sees, to see His Law at work.
Thank you too RobertH for sharing your thoughts and demonstration.
I wrote down these two quotes, but don’t have the author:
“REALIZE the truth off what you read. I paused a moment to REALIZE what I had read…until I felt sure there was nothing to heal because God is All-in-All.”
And..
“REALIZE” as to “mentally insist” on a spiritually scientific fact of being.”
I also like the “R” word rebel, as in mentally/spiritually lifting thought in opposition against what the material senses seemingly suggest.
oops, typo…the truth OF what you read.
“Thy kingdom come” by Nathan A. Talbot. From the December 19, 1977 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/161mkj8kjig?s=copylink
Thank you dear J for this helpful and inspiring article about “Thy kingdom come” by Nathan Talbot. It gives me a lot!♡
Thank you, dear Evan for your weekend SpiritView about God’s kingdom within us or right at hand!
In face what all is going on in the world, this SV is deeply comforting. God’s kingdom is safe, the only grand kingdom, where God’s powerful law is governing a l l. supremely and absolutely harmonious!♡
Such a lovely Spring foto up here! Thanks a lot♡
J. thank you so much for linking this article from Nathan Talbot. I love the final paragraph in the article and before that, this got my attention. “Christian Science brings to light God’s eternal, unchanging presence. Man is indispensable to God’s allness. He gives evidence of this allness. His beauty and wholeness are proof of the very nature of God. These are facts of reality.”
Thank you Evan for this topic and your wonderful explanation of what we should be seeking as the Kingdom of Heaven (our kingdom) is very helpful. May you all have a blessed weekend in His Kingdom.
Excellent.
Thanks RobertH. I love that passage. There’s a lecture that clarifies, “how long do we need to realize the presence of health…?” UNTIL the body corrosponds…