One of my favorite authors is John Ortberg. In his book, God Is Closer Than You Think, he gives a great description of what it looks like to truly bring God's kingdom closer to where we live:
"God, make up there come down here.
It can happen. Every time you are in conflict with someone, want to hurt them, gossip about them, or avoid them, but instead go to them and seek reconciliation and forgiveness - The kingdom is breaking into this world.
Every time you have a chunk of money and decide to give sacrificially to somebody who is hungry or homeless or poor - The kingdom is breaking into the world.
Anytime someone has an addiction and wants to partner with God so much they're willing to stop hiding, acknowledge the truth, and get help from a loving community - The kingdom is breaking into the world.
Every time a workaholic parent decides to stop idolizing their job, rearranges their life to being to love and care for the little children entrusted to them - The kingdom is breaking into the world.
Every time you love, every time you include someone who's lonely, ever time you encourage someone who's defeated, every time you challenge somebody who's wandering off the path, every time you serve the under-resourced - it is a sign the kingdom is once more breaking into the world."
We often think in terms of big ideas, big events, and big plans when it comes to bringing God's kingdom and presence to bear on this world. What we often miss, though, are the small and ordinary ways we can incarnate God's presence in our world and the places we exist. To pray, "Thy kingdom come, they will be done" is not a wish...it is a call to action! We are called to put into action God's presence and make real God's reign...God's kingdom.
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