TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s verses are Matthew 22:18-21, where the Bible says,

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!

I’ve got good news and I’ve got very good news. Ready? All the struggles of the moment, like government ineptitude, civil unrest, and anxiety about the future, cannot ultimately overwhelm believers. Why? It’s not because of who WE are, that’s for sure. We’ve got the same fears, anxieties, and challenges as other people. Thankfully, it has to do with who God is. The Bible proclaims that God is at work right now to preserve the world (Romans 13:1-7). And, even better, God is at work saving the world through the proclamation of the Gospel (Matthew 24:14; John 3:16). Jesus said a very interesting thing in today’s reading, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”  A few days later, as Jesus heads toward the cross, Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, claimed that he had authority over Jesus himself. Jesus responded, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Wow! God is at work. He saves the world through the person and work of Jesus. THAT’S THE MAIN MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE.

Whether it’s amidst Roman rule, Greek city states, Egyptian Pharaohs, or our constitutional
Republic, God is at work both to preserve and to save. Since the main message of the Bible is about saving the world through the unique person and work of Jesus Christ for all, God preserves the world so that all might hear it for themselves. God attempts to keep the world civil, humane, just, and safe (outwardly), even through people like Caesar and Pilate (and, amazingly today, through representative government and virtuous, free citizens). You see, God is at work in the world in two distinct ways. First, he desires to keep things civil, humane, and just through His created orders of family, work, and government. As I like to put it, God works through fathers, mothers, businesspeople, and leaders, broken and sinful though they are. God works through them to prevent chaos, to literally keep all hell from breaking loose IN THIS WORLD. That’s called God’s Left-Hand Kingdom rule, His engagement to preserve order. That’s good news. But that’s not the great news of God’s Right-Hand Kingdom work which freely grants salvation by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus. Yet the Left-Hand Kingdom work of God, often through relatively moral unbelievers, is also part of His work of blessing.

Christians engage in the public realm, even though it is full of philosophies, ideologies, and appetites emanating from sinful, broken people just like us. We do so because there is good work to do to keep things sane, humane, temporally just, and safe. (We, at the LCRL like to say, “Good government can’t save us, but bad government can destroy us.”) So, let’s strive for the “good” work which makes for a better, more civil union. It involves free citizens raising loving, virtuous families, creating safe, caring neighborhoods by being good neighbors, and challenging Americans to self-directed, self-governing lives for the sake of others. But never forget that such “good” work is always in service to God’s ultimate work to save, to get the message of Christ out there for all to hear. Yes, keep it orderly and safe, so the Church can speak. Keep things just, so chaos is kept at bay. Legislate fair laws to live by so there can be opportunities to share a message of grace over the fences to neighbors living side by side in peace. God’s two distinct ways of acting in His “Two Kingdoms” involve two specific types of engagement. YET HIS ONE MISSION REMAINS TO ULTIMATELY BLESS THE WORLD NOW AND FOREVER IN AND THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

PRAYER – Dear Lord Jesus, give us the commitment and will to be Your voice of the Law and the Gospel so that we might be a part of the solutions You have for our communities, as well as the voice of grace for hearts aware of their need for Your forgiveness. AMEN.

Other Devotions
FOR UNITY, YOU NEED THE TRUTH!
FOR UNITY, YOU NEED THE TRUTH!

In his younger days, Bob Barker, former host of the television show, “The Price is Right,” hosted another show called “Truth or Consequences.” On this program contestants were asked questions and if they gave incorrect answers, there were consequences. There was a penalty for getting things “wrong.” Now the consequences weren’t life threatening. They involved comical stunts which may have been a bit embarrassing, but were endured as good-natured fun. At the close of every program, Barker signed off saying, “Good night, hoping all your consequences are happy ones.” It was an instant and enduring hit from the 1940s through Barker’s time with the show in the 1960s.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE?
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE?

In All’s Well that Ends Well, William Shakespeare wrote, “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” The Beatles remind us of the same idea in their song, “All You Need Is Love.” But is it really that easy? If love is all we need, if love alone matters, and if love works, then what’s the problem? Why are we as a country at each other’s throats? Why are divorce rates so high? Why are so many people not even getting married at all? Why are children growing up in increasingly broken homes? Why aren’t people loving each other if that is all we need to do? Good question

THE FRUIT-PRODUCING POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST FOR LIFE!
THE FRUIT-PRODUCING POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST FOR LIFE!

Many people come to Washington, D.C., because they want to make a difference. They want their lives to matter, to mean something. Who doesn’t? Unfortunately, politics tends to promise what it can’t deliver. In fact, a truly meaningful life is more than politics, more than the accumulation of wealth or influence, and more than one’s vocational skills and abilities can produce. Ironically, the key to a purposeful life isn’t primarily about your works at all. It’s not about “who” you are or what you do, but about “whose” you are. Jesus reminds us that He is the Vine, the source for real, lasting life. We are like branches.

SO WHAT MAKES A LIFE WORTH LIVING?
SO WHAT MAKES A LIFE WORTH LIVING?

The following saying is often wrongly attributed to G.K. Chesterton: “When people stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing — they believe in anything.” He actually said that if we stop believing in God we lose our common sense.1 For many, that’s that same thing. When you deny the one who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6), and who calls Himself the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11), you don’t replace Him with nothing. Instead, you tend to replace Him with the most absurd “other things.”

WHAT FIRES BURN IN YOUR HEART TODAY?
WHAT FIRES BURN IN YOUR HEART TODAY?

What a Bible study it must have been that day! On the road to Emmaus, Jesus ROOTED those disciples in the firm promises of the Bible that had come to fruition in Him. Even more, Jesus set their hearts on fire by anchoring their faith in Him in all things (verse 32). That’s a fire which comes from God’s love and grace through faith in the Son of God.

BELIEVING IS TRULY SEEING!
BELIEVING IS TRULY SEEING!

Is seeing believing? Or are there things that are very real, even very true, that we cannot see with our eyes? Our garage doors open by unseen forces at the touch of a button. We put our food and drinks into little rectangular devices and hit the button believing that, absent a heating element or a flame of any sort, microwaves will make our food or beverages piping hot. Even the most empirical of scientists has things which he/she believes long before they are tested or visible to human eyes.

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – REAL HOPE FOR YOUR LIFE!
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – REAL HOPE FOR YOUR LIFE!

Jesus is risen; He is risen indeed! But there’s even more good news for those who believe in Him. He clearly says, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Wow! What a statement. In the midst of wars, rumors of wars, fears, violence, and the growing cultural pressures to jettison biblical truth for public acceptance, in the midst of it all, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus call all people to an everlasting life of repentance and faith that the world can never take away. It calls believers to a confident hope that comes from knowing that even death itself has been conquered by the One who created and redeemed us.

WHAT A MINDSET, WHAT A MISSION
WHAT A MINDSET, WHAT A MISSION

Mindsets matter. I remember back in my playing days how important my “frame of mind” was on the day before a big race or a big game. If I was confident in my training, confident in the game plan, and physically and emotionally focused, my mindset often gave me an edge when the contest began. Search the internet and you’ll find all kinds of “mindset” programs and seminars that will help prepare you for the big game, as well as for the big presentation, investment, or promotion. Mindsets matter.

LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT THAN IN THE WORLD
LEADERSHIP IN GOD’S KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT THAN IN THE WORLD

There is no such thing as “generic” servant leadership. Or is there? Whenever I read this passage of Scripture, all the servant leadership programs in our world today immediately come to my mind. And it’s not just Christian colleges or businesses who espouse such things. Evidently, there’s an eastern and a western philosophical view of servant leadership. They both call for leaders to be empathetic and active listeners who serve their employees rather than just boss them around.

GRACE IS NOT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM!
GRACE IS NOT A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM!

An ad for the U.S. Marines pictures a sword with these words beneath it: “Earned, not given.” If you want to become a Marine, you have to earn the right to be called a Marine through sacrifice, hardship, and training. If you get it, you deserve it. In this world, there are jobs that only Marines can handle. There are even efforts that demand special forces like the Navy Seals. When it comes to maintaining law and order in this world, there have to be people who say, “This far and no farther,” so that we can all live in relative peace. But here’s the problem.

WHEN DID GOD’S LAW BECOME MERE OPINION?
WHEN DID GOD’S LAW BECOME MERE OPINION?

When did greed, coveting, promiscuity, character assassination, violence, and even intimidation become our “cultural values?” When did things like these even become entertaining to some? When did “virtue” become such a dirty word? Indeed, it seems that all too often vices have become virtues and virtues have been turned into vices. Look, I realize that all of us are sinful and broken. I also know that it’s hard to have these conversations because the finger points back at each one of us. Furthermore, we must all admit that even our best efforts at living morally and virtuously fall short, often when we needed to be at our best.

WHEN CHRIST RAISES YOU UP!
WHEN CHRIST RAISES YOU UP!

What are your deepest hurts and your grandest hopes? Do you have worries and fears, or great dreams and expectations? What happens when an ugly reality seems to rear its head no matter your planning or provision? What then? Does answering any of these questions really matter in the end?

Yes! The great preacher Charles Spurgeon was right, "We have great needs, but we have a great Christ for our needs!" And the living Christ is here for you in His word to offer you His life and His salvation as a gift. There is one question that engulfs all other questions in this life. The question comes from Jesus himself, “Who do you say that I am?” Another question springs from it, “Who then are you IN HIM?”

NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!
NOW IS THE TIME OF GOD’S FAVOR!

Now is the time of God’s favor? Really? Now?

Sometimes larger circumstances can overcome the reality of a specific situation. In other words, the things that are happening all around us are better viewed in terms of other, more significant events with even more far-reaching consequences. That’s what it was like for some of the people fighting in World War II. The ceremonial surrender of the Japanese government and the “Victory over Japan” proclamation (VJ Day) did indeed mean that the second major, worldwide conflict of the 20th century was officially over. But that did not stop the fighting of many Japanese infantrymen against U.S. Marines in the South Pacific. Some fought for many months, even though their defeat was assured, inevitable, and even officially admitted. As the website “Military History Now” notes:

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FOR THE DAYS AHEAD!
A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FOR THE DAYS AHEAD!

I’m becoming more and more convinced that all of our modern technologies are actually making us more ignorant, rather than more informed; they also make us more prone to be isolated, rather than connected with each other. Because of our sinful rebelliousness against the moral truths of God, human beings also seem to be more clueless than ever about how to live their lives in this world meaningfully and joyfully. That’s true even amidst all the advances of science and technology. As I get older, I see this more clearly than ever. Evil truly does exist in the world and evil exists in every human heart. Unfortunately, there is no easy religious, secular, or scientific fix for this DEADLY virus. The great scientist Albert Einstein said, “It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.”

ALL -IN!
ALL -IN!

I’m not much of a poker player. When I was growing up, my family tended not to be card players (though the occasional, raucous game of “May I” could be cited as evidence to the contrary). But I do know the meaning of the phrase, “all-in.” How about you? In cards, and especially in the game Texas Hold-Em, “all-in” is when a player decides to put all of his chips on the table. At that moment, he/she bets all they have to either win or lose everything. Back in the days of the Wild West, they called it ''betting the ranch.'' This was not just putting all that you had that night into the pot but, risking everything you owned. That’s an “all-in” commitment in a game! What about an “all-in” commitment in life?

NOW IS THE TIME FOR REPENTANT FAITH!
NOW IS THE TIME FOR REPENTANT FAITH!

In a Charlie Brown cartoon, little brother Linus is looking very forlorn. He asks big sister Lucy, “Why are you always so anxious to criticize me?” Lucy, looking very self-righteous, replies, “I just think I have a knack for seeing other people’s faults.” Linus turns indignant. “What about your own faults?” he asks. “I have a knack for overlooking them,” says Lucy.

COME AND SEE!
COME AND SEE!

Someone said that the medicine of modern life is the “joy of not knowing where you’re going, the confidence of not knowing how to get there so that you can have the peace of not worrying about when you’ll arrive.” Well, the God who became man in the Babe laid in the manger seeks to shake us from such doldrums and give us the gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation on His terms alone.

A SAVIOR WITH HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT!
A SAVIOR WITH HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT!

The baptism of Jesus is one of those events in the Bible that will help you come to grips with who Jesus is, who you are without him, and who you are by grace through faith in Him alone. Baptisms, as a rule, are for people who are dirty and need to get clean. Yet religious washings tend to be about more than outward personal hygiene.

Are You Ready for the Party that Matters?
Are You Ready for the Party that Matters?

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are a time when our culture looks back and then looks forward. It’s a time when we try to come to grips with the failures and successes of the year that is passing away so as to be ready to face the challenges and opportunities of the year to come.

“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE!
“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE!

Who could refuse this offer: “Peace that lasts, forgiveness that holds, and life abundant now and forever because God is with us.” Well, many do. Why? Because as sinful, rebellious people by nature, we tend to settle for counterfeits instead of the real thing.

A BATTLE OF WILLS!
A BATTLE OF WILLS!

The amazing proclamation of the Bible is that the person and work of Jesus in history stands as the concrete expression of the will of God the Father for all people. Out of His love for us, He sent His Son into this sinful world to save it.

REPENTANCE, ANYONE?
REPENTANCE, ANYONE?

That is a prayer of repentance to God for His gracious forgiveness. It sounds like something that John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, might call us to say. Repentance, the God-induced sorrow for our sins in response to His Law, also causes us to fall at the feet of Jesus seeking the forgiveness for our sins that only He can grant.

READIED FOR TIMES LIKE THESE!
READIED FOR TIMES LIKE THESE!

Those who attend churches that follow a commonly used series of Sunday readings probably heard 1st Corinthians 1:3-9 in worship yesterday.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OR CONCERNED DISCIPLES?
CONCERNED CITIZENS OR CONCERNED DISCIPLES?

The last few years have witnessed incredible Novembers, haven’t they? Even when it was Thanksgiving, it seemed like we were always under siege, whether it was the virus, our jobs, the economy, or chaos in our cities.

PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL ELECTION
PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL ELECTION

Morale soared that day. It was a day of failure, but it was a day when those who were rotting in one of the worst prisons in Vietnam suddenly realized that they had not been forgotten.

IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!
IN CHRIST, GOD IS FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU!

“We’re not exactly sure what was troubling the Thessalonian Christians. But one thing is clear. They were confused about the Second Coming of Chris.”

THE REAL PICTURE…GET THE PICTURE?
THE REAL PICTURE…GET THE PICTURE?

“It’s November in America and this is the month people focus on politics and elections, even when they are still a year away. “

SET FREE TO LIVE FREELY!
SET FREE TO LIVE FREELY!

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!
TWO KINGDOMS TRUTH? IT’S GOOD NEWS AND GREAT NEWS!

22:18-21, where the Bible says,

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius,

The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!
The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!

The Joy-Filled, Joyful Journey!

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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