His Kingdom Within

Nowhere does God exercise his rule more powerfully than in the lives of those who have surrendered their hearts to him.

Jesus said, “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, NKJV). It is within this kingdom—the realm of our hearts—that Christ rules supreme over his people, guiding us, healing us, governing our actions and behavior.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). This verse speaks of Jesus’s endless rule throughout eternity. Yet, it also has another significant meaning: We must always increase our submission to our King’s rule.

Can you honestly say that day after day, Jesus’s government over you is increasing? Are you increasingly bringing your behavior under his authority?

You may wonder: If Jesus is in heaven, ruling in all authority at the right hand of the Father, how does he govern his kingdom here on earth? We find the answer in the book of Hebrews, where the author tells us that in the Old Testament, God spoke to his people through the prophets. But today the Lord has chosen to speak through his Son.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Jesus is God’s explicit message to us; the divine Word made flesh. In turn, the Father has sent the Holy Spirit to remind us of the words Jesus spoke while on earth. Thus, Jesus governs us by the written, revealed Word of God. The Bible is our Ruler’s scepter, by which he makes his word known to us.

If you want to hear the testimony of a man who was governed by the Word of God, look in Psalm 119:11: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”