This week we will be looking at how to live life in Gods Kingdom. What does living life in Gods Kingdom look like? Are there rules and regulations? Are there laws? What happens if you mess up and break the rules? What happens if you don't? Are there perks and benefits? What are they? How do we find all these things out? Do we have any false narratives about the Kingdom that need to be dealt with? Scripture is pretty clear that if we are to live life in the Kingdom of God then we need to follow the rules. This is a pretty bold statement and I'm pretty sure some of you are already shaking your heads at me. :) So let's examine this statement a little more closely. When I phrase this truth this way most of us get visions of God handing out commands and then judging our performance. Good little boys and girls will follow the rules and they will be rewarded accordingly. Bad little boys and girls won't follow the rules and will be punished accordingly. This is a false narrative. The idea here isn't that God issues a bunch of commands that He expects us to follow so that we will live up to His standards. The idea is that if we will trust Him enough to live life the way He says we should, we will automatically be living the life we were made to live. Gods commands are not there to give us a standard with which we will be judged by, they are there to show us how to become who He created us to be. We cannot truly live life in the Kingdom of God until we trust Him enough to live life the way He says we should. I say trust because for most of us this is the stumbling block we run into. I can attest for myself that most of the times I fall short of the commands that God has given me it is because I did not trust Him enough to follow His commands. I was afraid that He would let me down, or I was sure my way was better. (Yes I know these are basically the same thing) Jesus said “If you love me you will obey my commands” which equates to If you love me enough to trust me with your life you will do life the way I say is best. This goes against most of what the world has taught us because life in the Kingdom is the polar opposite of life in the world. So this week let's practice trusting Jesus, even if it doesn’t always feel like it's going to work. I will be praying for us all!

● What is Gods wish here?
● Why does He desire this?
● Does He force us to live His way?
● Why?

● Why does God send them back to their tents?
● Why is God speaking His commandments to Moses?
● Why would He give them the land regardless?
● Did He?
● What is different now from then?

● What benefit will come from obeying the Lord here?
● What would turning to the right or left look like?
● Is this something you struggle with today?
● Why?
● Think of some times you knew the path and turned aside.
● What happened?

● What are the benefits of walking in His way?
● Why do you think this is?
● Was this for Gods benefit or the peoples?

● How do you live life in the kingdom?
● Does this save you?
● Or is it the key to living life after being saved?
● Can they be separated?

● What is the purpose of Gods commandments?
● Do you trust this statement?
● Why or why not?

● Why is it hard to enter the Kingdom?
● If it is so hard how can we do it?
● How can we trust and love Jesus more?
● Spend some time today pondering these things in your heart.

The Lord bless you this week, and I pray that we all become ever more trusting of Gods commands for our lives. May we become the people He has called us to be! God bless you, I will be praying for us!