I have attempted to put in simple terms what God has revealed to me in my Bible studies.
The Invitation
Matthew 13:47““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.”
Like the fish gathered in the net men and women from every walk of life are invited into the kingdom of heaven. But if you keep reading they are sorted in to those that are saved and those who are not. Jesus Is waiting for everyone and anyone to jump in the net.
It begins small
Matthew 13:31“He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.”
Like a mustard seed that grows into a large tree, the kingdom of heaven starts small. A simple prayer of repentance and surrender to the authority of God brings about big changes in our life.
“He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”” – Matthew 13:33
In other words once you start with that simple prayer, God’s kingdom of heaven fills your life.
Forgive as you have been forgiven.
Matthew 18:23““Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.”
The king was settling a debt with a servant who was unable to pay what was owed and he begged the king for forgiveness. The king being merciful forgave the man the great debt he owed and set him free. But if you keep reading the man misused his forgiveness and used his freedom to demand payment from another. When we ask God for His forgiveness He gives it freely. In return we should forgive those who wrong us. After all the Lord’s Prayer asks the Father to “forgive us as we forgive others.”
Be prepared for when Jesus comes.
Matthew 25:1““Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.”
In this parable Jesus tells us about the kind of people who will be in the kingdom of heaven. He describes 10 people who went out to meet him, but only 5 came prepared. The other 5 Jesus rejected as if He didn’t even know who they were. Today is the day to surrender your life to Jesus. Repent and be forgiven now. Because when He comes, it will be to late.
Use what God has given you to further His kingdom.
Matthew 25:14 ““For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”
Keep reading and we are told that three different men were given different talents and responsibilities, but one of the men shirked his responsibilities and was stripped of his talent and purpose in Gods kingdom. Every man is given a talent, a purpose, and a responsibility to use what God has blessed him with to advance His kingdom. When we don’t use or under use what God has given us, it begins to wither and disappear from our lives. Don’t let that happen in your life.
There is so much more to the kingdom of heaven than this simple breakdown. But if I had to break it down even more I would simply put it;
The kingdom of heaven is found in our everyday walk with Jesus Christ. The kingdom of heaven is like when we come to Jesus for forgiveness. It is like when Jesus shows mercy on us and forgives us. The kingdom of heaven is like when we forgive others the way God has forgiven us. It’s like when we trust Jesus with our lives and He takes what we have and who we are and makes us into so much more. The kingdom of heaven can only be found in an intimate walk with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Amen
