The 1980 action musical comedy “The Blues Brothers”  is a madcap romp with the key players Jake “Joliet” Blues and his brother Elwood out to save an orphanage from destruction.

It’s an insane, completely unbelievable story and anything but reverent, but somehow it works. It has an R rating, and while in some ways it is mild compared to the movies out there, parental discretion is definitely recommended on this one, and it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

There is a line in that movie that sticks out in my memory. One of the brothers declares they “are on a mission from God.” That’s a dubious claim at best, but still memorable.

Like the fictional Blue Brothers, you  and I are on a “mission from God.”

As Christians, we often talk about what we are saved from. We are saved from the consequences of our sin, an eternity of well-deserved suffering, and separated from God.

That is worth celebrating. None of us deserves the incredible mercy shown to us by Christ. No one is even close to good enough to earn an eternity with the Lord on their own merit.

That aspect of salvation is certainly news that needs to be shared and is worth proclaiming to everyone. They, too, can be saved from hell.

Yet, we often forget that while we are saved from that fate, we are also saved for something. 

We are His ambassadors.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

We are missionaries, evangelists, and teachers.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

We are peacemakers

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18

We are to love others.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

I could list many others, and I am sure you could do so easily as well.

The Christian life isn’t one of passive waiting for Jesus to return. You and I are on a mission from God. We are the church set apart to bring glory to God.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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The Christian faith is in many ways a journey to our new home in the kingdom of heaven. It’s where the citizenship of all believers is held, and our inheritance is.

Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven repeatedly in the gospel accounts. In Luke 9:27, He says, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (see also the parallel accounts in Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1)

He also speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven being near.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

Knowing that we can ask when the Kingdom of Heaven arrives. It isn’t an easy question to answer.

The kingdom has always existed because God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He created it all and rules over it.

There is also a sense that it arrived with Jesus and His work. The disciples got a taste at the transfiguration. You could argue that it came at His death and resurrection when our sins were paid. You might also say that it came at Pentecost, when the Spirit ushered in a new era of power.

You could make the case that the kingdom is not yet in its full form. At the culmination of all things, all believers will be with the Lord, and the kingdom will be uncontested.

The kingdom is like many things in Christianity, now and not yet. We are justified (saved) when we accept Christ, yet our election was made before the creation of time. Throughout this life, we are being sanctified (made holy as he is holy). Ultimately, we will be glorified (made fully holy and the way God intended us to be).

Our faith walk is a journey during which we will see and understand more of God’s character and experience greater glimpses of what it means to be in the kingdom.

Our calling is from God, and our destination is secure. The vista before us is ever-changing. We are secure in the Lord, no matter what we face along the way.

As we travel along the path, enjoy the journey with all of it’s ups and downs, knowing what awaits will be better than anything along the way.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

__________________________________________ 

Please like and share this post with your friends and those in your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.

Did you know that we have an email version? It offers the same great content but in a different format. This is ideal for when you don’t want to check your Facebook or share with friends who don’t use Facebook. 

Subscribe today 

___________________________________________ 

All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.