Happy New Year! What would you like this year? More of the same, or something different? What will make this year significant?
This year is A.D. 2019. The A.D. stands for anno domini — “in the year of our Lord.”
The ancient world usually measured the years by the current ruler. We are currently in the 66th year of Queen Elizabeth II. The point of that dating system was to have everyone acknowledging their monarch in their daily business. But figuring out dates from the distant past meant adding up the reigns of many monarchs.
A guy named Dionysius decided we should fix our dates by the world’s most significant monarch. By his calculations, this is the 2019th year of Jesus’ reign. Even if he was out by 4 or 5 years, he understood the significance of Jesus’ kingship.
So what will make this year significant? One thing: living as the community that recognizes and enacts Jesus’ kingship. Allegiance to Jesus as our ruler (Lord) defines his followers. That loyalty is expressed as love for the people our king loves (the whole of humanity).
So what does it look like to live as the community (kingdom) of King Jesus? That’s what I’d like to pursue this year. Let’s discover together what it means be the kingdom of God in his earthly realm.
You could have no greater aim for 2019.
Seeking the kingdom 
Yes please !
That’s something I would really like to do, experientially as well as theoretically
Thanks Allen, looking forward to what’s next
Kerry
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Was just praying along those very lines this morning. Actually, been there for sometime. Would love to discover together what it means to be the kingdom of God in His earthly realm. Thank you. Linett.
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I recently read Enthroned by David Fritch, he talks extensively about God’s heaven on earth, and I’m so excited to hear more from you Allen about God’s kingdom of heaven on our earthly realm, where our prayers and worship end up!
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