Reading A Life Insurance Policy

In my files there are a couple of thick documents that have potential importance to my family; my life insurance policies. They are full of information and conditions of which I am only superficially aware – mostly what they are worth, the monthly amount I pay, and the expiration date of the policy. I do not remember the last time I took them out to read them!  I bought them and put them away and they will be largely forgotten until my life closes, when one of my children will take them out to make a claim.  The words printed in those polices are important, a contract enforceable by law, but they have little relevance to my life right now.

Christian, do you regard the Bible in the same way I think of those insurance policies?
Are you glad for the promises, assured that the words are true and important?
At the same time, do you regard the Word as largely irrelevant to your day to day life, your Christianity mostly about gaining Heaven someday?

Jesus invites us into the Kingdom of God, not just when we get to Heaven, but here; now! "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." (Matthew 4:23, NIV)  When He taught the disciples to pray, one of the phrases is about making the reign of God visible. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done!”   When He sent them out on their first preaching trip, He told them "to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:2, KJV)

We enter into God’s rule and live under His benevolent care by faith. We understand His ways and are instructed by His Holy Word. The Bible is our daily guide for Kingdom life. That is why we must read it, learn it, study it, and live it. A Christian who is meeting life head on, who is praying to live wholly and holy for God’s glory, who wants to see the bad stuff replaced by the godly things – will be hungry to find God’s will, to be inspired to greater faith, by the Scripture.

Jesus reminded the disciples that they had to look past just a life shaped around paying the bills and putting food in their mouths. He told them "What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (Matthew 6:31-33, The Message)

If we think of Jesus only with regard to ‘end of life here’ issues, we will inevitably grow casual in faith practices. But, if we are passionate about defeating sin, raising godly kids, meeting hatred in our culture with bold, godly love, becoming people who gain victory over sin and temptation, becoming beautifully Christ-like – we will love those things that help us to discover the empowering Presence of the Spirit. What are they?  Fellowship with other Christians, study and reading of God’s Word, prayer, service are just a few.

The book of Acts is the story of those first-generation Believers. They had little in the way of resources and yet we read of the power of God that worked through them. That we are serving Christ today is evidence of their ‘success.’   I love a phrase that Luke included about those early Christians.  When they were dragged before the learned council of religious professionals to give an account for themselves, there was one thing that was evident. "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13, NIV)

Let’s make it a priority to seek the Kingdom. Let’s pray to make a demonstrable difference in our world. Let’s not think about our faith as an insurance policy, but as a way to change the world.

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Mighty To Save

Ev’ryone needs compassion

Love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Ev’ryone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Saviour

The hope of nations

Saviour He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Ev’rything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan

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