The Kingdom of God is Like...

Jesus frequently started his teachings with "the kingdom of God is like..." What frequently followed was something his audience didn't expect.

Sowing seeds, hidden treasure, a mustard seed, and a net catching fish, are just some of Jesus'illustrations of the Kingdom. How can such simple, everyday items convey something as glorious as the Kingdom of the Most Holy Creator of all things?

The other night Jesus' Kingdom idea became a little clearer to me. A friend & I were seeking out food at Carl's Jr. As we walked toward the door a stained-shirt, slurry-speached, limpity-legged man approached us...and asked for 50 cents, saying "I'm hungry."

He then went on to tell us a long story about the surgeries he needed and didn't have money for and the problems with his checks and medications and a great variety of other issues. We told him "well, we can't give you money, but we can buy you a hamburger." He said that would be great...but as it turned out the Carl's Jr. was closed as it was quite late and nothing else was open either.

So, as we pondered how we might help him, we knew our only solution was to give him a few dollars and trust God might guide him to use it wisely. But as we did that and said "God bless," to turn and leave. He started asking us about church. And then after a long conversation about where a church was for him. He asked another question...

It became clear that his hunger was not for food...but for companionship.

In that midnight hour, the kingdom of God was like a homeless man...hungry for connection.

My friend and I realized maybe he was on to something...maybe we were hungry for connection too?!

The kingdom of God is like....

What is it like for you?