“Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21 ESV).
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come, expecting signs of political upheaval or outward power. But Jesus corrected their thinking. The Kingdom of God was not something to be observed with visible signs—they were missing it even as it stood right in front of them. The King Himself was in their midst. His coming marked the inauguration of the Kingdom, though its full consummation awaits His return.
The Kingdom is already here. It has broken into history through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Yet it is not fully here—we still long for the day when Christ will return and reign in fullness over all creation.
Where is the Kingdom today? It is present wherever Jesus is acknowledged as King. Every heart that bows to Christ, every act of obedience to His Word, every moment of Spirit-filled transformation is a glimpse of the Kingdom breaking in.
But we also wait. We long for the day when sin, suffering, and death will be no more, when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is the tension of the Christian life—we already live in the Kingdom, but not yet in its fullness.
Have you recognized Christ as King? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? If so, the Kingdom of God is in your midst now and your hope is secure in what is yet to come. Until then, let us continue to pray “thy Kingdom come” prayers.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we surrender our hearts to King Jesus. Thank You that Your Kingdom has come through Him and is at work in us even now. Help us to live as faithful citizens of this already-present Kingdom while we wait with hope for its glorious fulfillment. May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done, here, in us, and one day, in all the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen.