In Luke 19, Jesus is making His triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. I would love to have witnessed this moment. As He rode into the city that would take His life in a few days, He now is heralded as the King of the Jews by the people. This is how Matthew recounts the scene:
“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:8-9 ESV).
This was in fulfillment of what the prophet Zechariah wrote about Him,
“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” (Matthew 21:5 ESV).
The city was elated. The people had met the Messiah, the promised King of Israel, Son of David, who would deliver them from bondage and reign over them as the King of God’s people. While this uproar was happening, the Pharisees were standing by, growing indignant because of the people’s praise for Jesus.
“And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:39-40 ESV).
Did you catch Jesus’ response? He told these sanctimonious leaders that even if He did what they asked and silenced the people, the stones themselves would cry out. What a marvelous lesson our King teaches the teachers. What a wonderful lesson He teaches us today. This is a lesson about God’s glory and how God will always be glorified. Nothing can silence the glory of God.
But it is in the stones that Jesus teaches this remarkable lesson in a way that should cause us to ensure glory comes from us and that we do not let an inanimate object do the very thing we were created to do.
We know creation itself will declare the glory of God. In a passage many can quote by heart, the Psalmist says,
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1b ESV).
From the millions of billions of stars, to the unnumbered bacteria and viruses, everything great or small declares the glory of God. This includes the cold, immovable, inanimate stones that cover the surface of the Earth. All of creation declares the glory of God. But here is the thing we often forget. While all of God’s creation is designed to declare His glory, we were made to be the pinnacle of creation to give God the glory due Him.
Unlike the rest of creation, we were made in His image. We were granted a portion of dominion from our God as well as limited free will that allows us to choose how to interact with our Creator. While everything else declares the glory of God because they were created to do so, mankind makes the choice to give glory to God or to withhold the glory due Him.
This is what the people of Israel were doing in this triumphant entry of their King into Jerusalem on this day. Just as the prophet foretold, they were choosing to give glory to God on that day. They were doing what they were made to do, yet unlike the stones, they did it freely. But here’s the message of Jesus to the Pharisees; even if He could silence these image bearers of God, the cold, immovable, inanimate stones lying around would give Him the glory due Him.
This could not have set well with the Pharisees. In this simple response, Jesus was telling these indignant rulers He deserved the glory people were giving Him. The glory He received was inevitable. And so the Creator of the universe continued to ride the colt into the city as people paid Him glory worthy of a King, glory worthy of God.
This is a powerful message of God and His glory, of Jesus and His worthiness of glory that belongs to God alone. But if we leave this lesson in the text, we would be missing a mighty message for each of us. As the pinnacle of God’s creation, we are the ones uniquely created to give God glory in a way that no other part of creation can. We do so of our choice. We can give God glory or we can choose to remain silent.
But if we remain silent, God will not be robbed of His glory. Other parts of His creation will give Him glory that should come from us. How many times have we robbed God of His glory? How many times have we chosen not to glorify God when we should have? We are the only part of creation made in His image and yet, we often let inanimate objects do what we should be doing.
Now, I am not saying that creation only glorifies God when we don’t. That’s not the point Jesus is making. All of creation will never cease glorifying God. The point is that when we remain silent, God will still get His glory. Yet, we are the ones who should be leading creation in giving glory to the King of kings, Lord of lords.
How do we sometimes miss our opportunity to glorify God?
Are there times when we are worried about what others will think if we publicly proclaim God’s glory? Are we worried we will be met with indignant Pharisees who demand our silence? What a tragedy to rob God of the glory we are uniquely designed to give Him as His image bearers.
Are there times where we have grown so accustomed to God’s blessings that we simply stop acknowledging them?
Similarly, how many times do we fail to give God credit for the blessings in our lives and instead, say in our hearts, “Look at what I have done with my hands, by my might?”
How many times do we neglect to share our faith and remain silent to others, whatever the reason or excuse we have? When we fail to share our faith, we are robbing God the glory we can show to the lost who desperately need a Savior.
Our own actions should demonstrate glory to God, but how many times do our lives demonstrate hypocrisy rather than be the testimony that glorifies our Creator?
How many times do we have the opportunity to prioritize God over other things, yet we choose things above Him?
How many times do we complain to God about what we do not have, rather than praise Him for the rich blessings we do have through Him?
How many times do we hide our Christian walk from others rather than be the light used to bring glory to His name?
Is our prayer life and worship to God intentional and prioritized? Do we fail to bring glory to God because we do not kneel before our King daily or because we worship God when it fits into our schedule? These are obvious ways we miss opportunities to bring glory to God.
In times of trials, do we let fear and doubt eat us rather than turn to the Lord when we need Him most?
Do we neglect to spend time daily in His Word and fill our schedule with things of lesser importance?
Do we glorify God in our stewardship as we use what He has blessed us with to His glory, or do we spend it on our own lust and desires?
Each of these things can serve as a checkpoint for the ways we can bring glory to God. As image bearers to our Creator, we are the pinnacle of His creation, uniquely designed to bring glory to our God in a way that transcends how the rest of creation can bring Him glory. Yet, if we are silenced, even the stones would cry out.
Let us not allow the lowliest of creation to rob us of our God-given birthright to bring glory and honor to our Lord and King. Let us lead the way in the glory we give to our Creator.
Having written hundreds of thousands of words and fed them all to AI’s ChatGPT, I was curious to see how an objective and dispassionate AI would summarize my writings on Kingdom Living, so I asked. Here is the summary AI via ChatGPT pulled from my writings. I can verify that it is spot-on, and I share it for your consideration:
Your own writings suggest that Kingdom Living is defined as living a life under the rule and reign of King Jesus, aligned with the principles of His kingdom as taught in Scripture. This life is characterized by:
Obedience to Jesus: Following the commands and teachings of Jesus with a sincere heart and a commitment to embody His example in daily life.
Faith and Trust in God: Acknowledging God’s sovereignty and living in faith, trusting His promises and guidance even in uncertainty.
Practical Christianity: Demonstrating faith through action, emphasizing love, forgiveness, humility, and generosity as evidence of living under God’s rule.
Alignment with the Gospel: Living in light of the redemptive work of Jesus, proclaiming and embodying the good news of the kingdom in personal life and community.
Personal Stewardship: Offering one’s life and resources to God in meaningful ways, reflecting the call to be faithful stewards of the gifts and responsibilities entrusted by Him.
Your writings, particularly Tuesdays with Tony and The Sovereignty of God, emphasize that Kingdom Living involves surrendering personal desires for the sake of Christ, prioritizing His will over one’s own, and striving to reflect the character of God in all areas of life. It is a life of ongoing discipleship, transformation, and a commitment to glorify God in every thought, word, and action.
I am in the book of 1 John in my daily Bible reading. One thing John spends much effort discussing in this book is that we, as faithful children of God, will live a righteous life and love others.
In chapter 3, John writes,
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10 ESV).
It reminds me what the King said while He was preaching His message of kingdom living while on Earth:
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV).
I wonder if it’s easy for us to focus on loving God to the neglect of seeing the importance of loving our neighbor. Indeed, we cannot be of God until we learn to love our brother.
John goes on to say,
“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21 ESV).
Do you love God? Do you practice His righteousness? Good.
Do you love your brother? Are you ready to lay down your life for your brother? Not physically, but in service that counts others as more important than self?
Sacrificial love of service is love for our brother. This is how people will know we are His disciples.
I find this comforting.
He doesn’t roll His eyes when I ask.
He doesn’t sneer, “What, you again?”
He doesn’t chasten or sigh.
His well never runs dry.
He is generous and eager to share from His abundance what I lack.
This is His promise to me.
He says He will not hold back when I ask.
He says He will not give grudgingly.
It delights Him when I ask, and He is ready to pour out liberally upon me from His well of abundance.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV).
Go ahead and ask. The well of God’s wisdom never runs dry.
I am in Matthew in my daily Bible reading. The Sermon on the Mount is an amazing section of Scripture. This is where Jesus first amazes the people, speaking as One with authority, and not as one of their scribes.
It is in this sermon that Jesus teaches about divorce, about not returning evil for evil, about reconciling with our brothers before worshipping our God.
This is about Kingdom living. But here is something that just dawned on me. On the side of the mount were a multitude of people. I imagine some were divorced, some were in the midst of exacting revenge on another, or perhaps planning to exact revenge, and some may be holding a grudge against someone who had done them wrong while planning on worshipping in the synagogue on the next Sabbath.
Perhaps there were some in the crowd who were judging others harshly while ignoring their own faults.
My point is that our King did not temper His message based on who was in attendance on the mount. He didn’t hold back or sugar coat what He taught.
I am confident that some felt the sting of His message because it was a message of personal responsibility and righteous living.
Yet He spoke the Truth in love, not as a club to bludgeon others with. If He had watered down His sermon to that multitude for fear of offending those who may be guilty, He would have missed the opportunity to speak to the very ones who needed the message the most.
We must follow in the footsteps of our King when it comes to the way we have been entrusted with Truth. We must speak it to the multitudes without fear of how people may take it. We must speak it with love and trust that it can accomplish its divine work on those who have the heart to hear it.
If we refuse to teach people the tough things of Kingdom living, then we are not teaching the Gospel message of King Jesus and we miss a wonderful opportunity to be fellow workers with Him in His vineyard.
What a tragic missed opportunity to forego our chance to work with Jesus, only to let our talent pass to another because we buried it and returned it to the Lord unused.
I love the response that the multitude had after hearing Jesus teach this sermon on the mount. It is the same response to the unadulterated message we speak if our fidelity is to His truth and not to the fear we have of how hearers will take the message:
“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29 ESV).
What do you suppose was most amazing: That Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes or that people hungered for His words enough to go three days without food just to hear Him speak the words of life?
If we were in that crowd on day 1, would we still be there on day 3 to witness the miracle of the loaves and fishes?
I am in the book of Matthew in my daily Bible reading. In Matthew 12:7, Jesus says,
“And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” (Matthew 12:7 ESV).
This was in defense of His disciples when they were picking grain from the fields on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were incensed because they were violating their laws.
Sometimes, I think we may struggle with the same ideas. It’s a hard thing for people of God to come to terms when Jesus says, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” Isn’t sacrifice important? Isn’t sacrifice the very thing that shows our devotion and worship to God?
Yes, it is. Perhaps that’s why we struggle with His words here so much. But Jesus takes us deeper into Kingdom living. When sacrifice and mercy clash, Jesus makes it clear. He desires mercy, not sacrifice. The unsettling truth we struggle with is that sometimes the two do collide. When they do, Jesus teaches us what His priority is, which is what our priority should be for Kingdom living.
Mercy. Compassion. Grace. These are the currencies of Heaven. They are the fingerprints of God’s work in our lives. Jesus challenges us to prioritize these above the outward rituals that often serve as checkboxes of our faith. It’s not that sacrifices are meaningless, but they are powerless without a heart that mirrors the mercy of God.
Here is a challenge I take away from this passage this morning. How often do I fall into the same trap? How often do I check off the boxes of faith—attend worship, give an offering, say a prayer—while ignoring the hurting people around us? How often do I focus on looking holy rather than living holy?
Jesus calls us to elevate our Kingdom living. To let mercy reign over judgment. To let compassion outweigh ritual. To see the heart of God in every person we encounter and act accordingly.
So today, let’s lean into mercy. Let’s open our eyes to the struggles of others and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s set aside our pride, our sense of “rightness,” and extend grace, even to those who might not deserve it. Because isn’t that what God did for us?
Imagine how the world would change if we took this to heart. Imagine how our relationships, our workplaces, our communities would transform if we lived by mercy first. No excuses. No conditions. Just pure, unfiltered love in action.
Jesus doesn’t want our empty sacrifices—He wants our hearts. And when our heart beats in rhythm with His, mercy will flow. That’s the kind of Kingdom living that reflects the glory of our King.
Have we ever stopped to think about just how much grace God has shown us? It’s overwhelming when we really let it sink in. He forgave us when we didn’t deserve it, loved us when we were unlovable, and showed us mercy time and time again. His grace isn’t something we have earned or could ever repay—it’s a gift freely given.
But here’s the thing about grace: God never intended for it to stop with us. His grace is a gift, yes, but it’s also a calling. He’s asking us to take what we’ve received and give it to others.
Think about it. If God has forgiven us, how could we withhold forgiveness from someone else? If He has loved us unconditionally, how could we place conditions on our love for others? And if He has been merciful to us, even in our weakest moments, how could we not extend that same mercy to those around us?
Grace isn’t always easy. Forgiving someone who has hurt us can feel like an uphill battle. Loving someone who seems unlovable can test our patience. And showing mercy when it feels undeserved can stretch us beyond our comfort zone. But isn’t that exactly what God did for us?
God’s grace transforms us, not just so we can bask in His goodness, but so we can be a reflection of Him in this world. When we forgive, we show others a glimpse of His forgiveness. When we love, we mirror His perfect love. And when we show mercy, we reveal His heart.
Grace received becomes grace given. That’s how it works. That’s how it’s meant to work. So, the next time we’re faced with a choice—whether to forgive, to love, to show mercy—remember the grace we’ve already been given. Let it flow through us. God’s grace was never meant to end with us. It was meant to go so much further.
I am in Matthew in my daily Bible reading. In Matthew 24, Jesus says,
“But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:43-44 ESV).
Over and over, the Scriptures teach us that Jesus will return as a thief in the night; therefore, at all times, we must be prepared for His return.
Have you ever wondered about this timing? Why is Jesus coming as a thief in the night? Is it because He is setting a trap to catch us off guard so He can pounce on us when we sin?
Hardly. Jesus wants nothing more than for us to be faithful citizens of His kingdom. The idea of Him coming as the thief in the night is not to catch us off guard so He can bring the hammer down upon us.
Rather, it’s an admonition for us to walk with Him daily, living actively as His royal citizens. It’s a warning to keep our eyes on Him and not to get distracted by the world. It’s a wonderful invitation, reminding us to stay ready, so that when He does come, we will be ready and He will find us as faithful citizens.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:45-46 ESV).
Only those who are not devoted to Jesus as King and do not live each day under His rule need to be worried about the timing of His coming. It is to these people Jesus gives these warnings about His coming being as a thief in the night.
If we love Jesus and daily live faithfully as His servant, then we can await His glorious appearing with great joy and anticipation.
This is how we can say in all confidence what the apostle John says,
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b ESV).
Sometimes I wonder if we fret too much about the decisions we have to make. We take it to the Lord in prayer, which is always the best thing to do.
Sometimes, we may even fast when faced with a big decision.
We’re faced with a choice of jobs, which place to move, which home to purchase.
We are saddled with huge decisions that will have major impacts on us and our family.
So, we stress over the decision and hope we make the right one. We pray for wisdom when we decide.
These are things we must all do as faithful children of God. And when we look back, we praise God that He led us to the right decision.
I do love it when we can see God in our lives, but let me ask you this…
Is it possible when we face major decisions, there may not be a “right” and “wrong” decision to make? Perhaps God isn’t too concerned about which we choose, but is more concerned about the faithful life we live as we choose?
Maybe when we look back and see the providential answers to prayers, it is not because of the choice we made, but because of the life we lived.
Isn’t it possible that whatever choice we made, God worked it for good in our lives?
Perhaps we are spending too much time worrying over the choice and not enough time focusing on the godly life we should be living.
I’d like to believe God can cause any of my choices to work for good rather than fret over whether I am going to pick the right choice or not.