The Kingdom of Christ

Imagine an earthly kingdom with a king more powerful than any other ruler on Earth. He has more wealth, more land, more servants, and more military might than anyone in the world. He is wiser, stronger, and more influential than any king ever to live. What also sets this king apart from all others is his willingness to serve his subjects. In fact, he eventually dies while saving one of his poorest servants from a terrible accident. What would you think about such a king?

Did you know that the church of Christ is a kingdom? It is not an earthly kingdom that competes for wealth, prestige, and natural resources. The church is a spiritual kingdom. The apostle Paul mentioned how Christ's kingdom is not centered around outward, physical things like eating and drinking. Rather, the kingdom of Christ is about "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

The King of this spiritual kingdom is Christ. The Bible calls Him "the King of kings, and Lord of lords…to Whom be honor and everlasting power" (1 Timothy 6:15-16). As King, Jesus is "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21). No one is greater than Christ.

Instead of using His greatness to lord over His servants (like so many worldly kings), Jesus served His servants, even to the point of death. He taught His followers: "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26-27).

In truth, Christians who do not serve God and their fellow men are not faithful servants of Christ; they are servants in name only. Christians need to spend time worshiping God and working in His kingdom, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and teaching the lost. And thank God that He has "delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:13).

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