Day 3 - The Long Search | Our King and the Kingdom of God - 21 Day Devotional
Book reading from Rediscovering the Kingdom: Introduction
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:8, Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents
Searching for something is an admission that something is lost. Religious practice without a relationship with Christ is the activity of being lost. Ritualistic, repetitive practices that do not engage creativity, current thinking, or active faith is mere religious practice. In the words of the Hebrews writer, “dead works:”
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
There was an absence of ritual in the life and ministry of Christ. In his day, Jesus was criticized for not engaging in religious ritual:
Matthew 15:1, Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:8, Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents
Searching for something is an admission that something is lost. Religious practice without a relationship with Christ is the activity of being lost. Ritualistic, repetitive practices that do not engage creativity, current thinking, or active faith is mere religious practice. In the words of the Hebrews writer, “dead works:”
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
There was an absence of ritual in the life and ministry of Christ. In his day, Jesus was criticized for not engaging in religious ritual:
Matthew 15:1, Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
“Washing hands” was a reference to ceremonial washing. This human search for Ultimate Reality is natural and common to all human cultures—even the self-acclaimed atheist inherently believes that, at the very least, there is someone or something out there not to believe in. Even in the most primitive societies we find this expression of desire to seek, find, and understand a Supreme Being as evidenced in the creation, development, and practice of some form of religion. (Munroe)
The “long search” reveals the need for Christ and the Kingdom of God. Searching ends with “The Way, the Truth, and the Life,” (John 14:6)
Reflection Questions;
1. In your past (or present), how has seaching revealed you were lost?
2. What are "dead works."
3. How did your search end in Christ and His Kingdom?
My Action Items:
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