This time Munroe opens asserting these scriptures (earlier likened to constitution) are the 'keys of the kingdom' and that we should know them, these truths, and, as the verse goes, they will set us free ... free to exert God's power authority, influence, 'on earth as it is in Heaven'. The problem, Munroe suggests, is that we have these keys but don't know how to use them. In watching Jesus, we see the miraculous as commonplace like feeding many with little, healings, wisdom and power beyond the logic of immediate circumstance, calm in the eye of the storm. This often defies my own experience. Munroe says when one knows the blessings and how they work, 'God will bring you wealth without sorrow.' This 'wealth without sorrow' could have been for the rich young ruler, whom Jesus instructed to sell his belongings but (I think Munroe is suggesting) the ruler's focus was on his own personal wealth and not Jesus. I often bristle at the idea of wealth and the confusion between God and our perceptions of it. I believe in God's provision as much as He has naturally and otherwise intervened in my life. But certain poverties have caused my faith, reliance on, and knowledge of God to grow and stretch in amazing ways. Anyway, if scripture is the key to knowing the Jesus of the Bible and how to live; I can get behind that.
As for citizenship, if we knew and lived the 'keys of the kingdom', Munroe suggests people would be 'clamoring' to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. But when we are compelled to follow Christ, our citizenship is immediate. And I don't think that but for God's grace and allowance, we would want that relationship regardless of what His subjects had to offer.
I do like the idea of the church as an embassy. I never thought of it that way before. Heaven's embassy for 'aid, training, and equipping.' Others will know not from where we hail but by our words and actions over time ... breeding a culture that is in but not of or from the world. And what about it ... next week, I guess.
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