Call of the Kingdom

1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 (NIV)

¹¹For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,¹²encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

¹³And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Last night I was at a meeting at church where a (negative) comment was made about the city I live in (different from the city this person lives in). At the time I could only sputter that I had never been involved in any crime as this person associated with "my" city. But on the way home I was bothered by my response and realized that a better answer would have been to remind him that each of us need to be Salt & Light to whatever place we are - that we are each called to be ambassadors for Christ's Kingdom, no matter where we are.

There's a part of me that doesn't really understand what "Christ's Kingdom" is - and yet I want to be in it. The parables like the sower or the mustard seed don't completely explain it to me, although maybe I'm just dense. But it seems like being the Kingdom is about sharing God's love, grace, justice, and mercy to the people of our world.

So, in that spirit, I include the lyrics to a song that's been rolling around within me lately:

Copy to Clipboard Print

Hear The Call Of The KingdomHear the call of the Kingdom
Lift your eyes to the King
Let His song rise within you
As a fragrant offering
Of how God rich in mercy
Came in Christ to redeem
All who trust in His unfailing grace

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Hear the call of the Kingdom
To be children of light
With the mercy of heaven
The humility of Christ
Walking justly before Him
Loving all that is right
That the life of Christ may shine through us

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

Hear the call of the Kingdom
To reach out to the lost
With the Father's compassion
In the wonder of the cross
Bringing peace and forgiveness
And a hope yet to come
Let the nations put their trust in Him

Chorus:

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name

So, we pray, Lord Jesus,

King of Heaven we will answer the call
We will follow bringing hope to the world
Filled with passion filled with power to proclaim
Salvation in Jesus' name...Amen.

"Hear the Call of the Kingdom"

CCLI Song No. 4930752
© 2006 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Keith Getty | Kristyn Getty | Stuart Townend

(If you want to watch this song in performance see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZCPsuCMUfY ).