A Good Foundation (aka The Kingdom on the Pea)

“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Messiah Yeshua himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” Ephesians 2: 20-21 (New Living Translation – NLT) adapted with Messianic Jewish terms

We live in a complicated society. The Media is constantly bombarding us with many types of messages. Live this way. Believe this person. Try this philosophy. On and on it goes. How many of us, I wonder, simply absorb and believe what we see and hear without spending a few moments to think about it. If we don’t think it through, then we may find ourselves building our lives on principles that are either shallow or meaningless.

A ministry can fall into the same trap. With a wide range of philosophies, ideas and paths out there, it becomes all too easy to follow the latest wind of “doctrine”. One person has a good idea about children’s ministry; another has a congregational growth strategy. Yet another person thinks the sanctuary should be painted green. Many of these ideas or strategies can be good and used by the Lord to build His kingdom.

It is just that in the process of growing, whether as an individual or a congregation, we may become caught up in too many things. Suddenly our lives or ministries become just as complicated and shallow as the world around us. Even worse, other people may look at you or your congregation and not see anything different from the world. One day you may find yourself looking at your life or ministry and realize that you somehow lost your way.

Do you remember the Hans Christian Anderson story of the “Princess on the Pea” (That is the actual title translation into English). The prince, desiring to get married, was looking for a special person. He came across many princesses but was not satisfied. One day a rain soaked women came to the castle and claimed she was a princess. To test the women’s claim the Old Queen devised a plan. She put a pea underneath 20 feather beds and 20 mattresses. Only a princess with delicate skin could feel the pea under all that bedding. The princess passed the test.

Sometimes, as followers of Yeshua, we inadvertently bury the Kingdom of God under 20 feather beds and 20 mattresses. We add layer upon layer of things to do, places to go, things to believe. We run the risk of getting so caught up in the layers that we forget that the test is in fact to hear the voice of God. In the story, the pea was the focus of the test; the bedding was simply part of the process of testing. In our walk with the Lord, the “still small voice” is the focus of the test. Everything else is a part of the process of testing.

One day we will be judged by what we do with the layers. However, if we lose sight of the foundations and the cornerstone we may find that the cornerstone is saying to us; ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me. . .”

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have-Yeshua the Messiah. 1Corinthians 3:11 (NLT -adapted)

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke 11:2b
(New Living Translation-NLT)

Something to think about.

We know this scripture. Many of us pray this scripture frequently. We want the Lord’s will to be done on earth as it already is in heaven. We claim this promise for many areas of our lives: healing, finances, family, kids and so on. All this is correct and should be done. However, have we ignored other areas that need to be discussed?

What about God’s will in areas of pride, humility, attitude, authority, position? What should we be praying and meditating about? What is the Lord’s will on earth as it is in heaven concerning these topics?

There are many Scriptures on these areas but let me give you one in particular to consider. Yeshua is talking about the coming full manifestation of His Kingdom at the end of the age. We usually read this verse as something similar to – the first will be last and the last will be first. Reflect on this translation:

“And note this: Some who seem least important now will be greatest then, and some who are greatest now will be least important then.” (Luke 13:30 NLT)

If this is the way it is heaven, why are we, as followers of Yeshua, constantly imitating the world’s idea of putting people on pedestals and/or treating them as superstars. The fact is, Scriptures such as Luke 13:30 are the only Biblical standards on this subject we should be adhering to. In Heaven, the “superstars” are people we would normally consider unimportant. People that consider themselves more highly than they should, run the risk of eventually finding out that they are actually less important in the Kingdom of God than they thought.

A scary notion indeed!

“. . . You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20: 25b-28 NLT) – emphasis with bold type added.