Knowing the kingdom of God is not just about understanding facts or having head knowledge; it’s about experiencing, inhabiting, and participating in God’s will here and now. Just as there are different levels of knowing a person, a place, or even something as simple as Marmite, there are different depths to knowing the kingdom. It’s one thing to know about the kingdom from scripture or teaching, but it’s another to taste it, to live in it, and to let it shape our daily lives. The kingdom of God, as Jesus taught, is wherever God’s will is being done—on earth as it is in heaven. This will is revealed in the harmony and flourishing of creation before the fall, in the promised restoration of all things, and in the life and ministry of Jesus. The kingdom is both spiritual and physical, heavenly and earthly, and it is marked by restoration, justice, healing, and worship. While we await its fullness, we are called to seek and express the kingdom in the present, in the midst of our ordinary, sometimes messy lives. The kingdom is not confined to holy places or special moments; it breaks in wherever God’s will is enacted—whether that’s in a shopping centre, a workplace, a family, or a random encounter. Jesus’ ministry shows us that the kingdom comes in the middle of daily routines, in the midst of suffering, and among the weeds of life. We are invited to look for the kingdom everywhere, not just in church or spiritual activities, but in every aspect of our lives. To truly know the kingdom, we must move beyond being spectators or tourists. We are called to “do the stuff”—to participate in both the supernatural and the practical expressions of God’s will. This means praying for healing, seeking justice, caring for the poor, building community, and being filled with the Spirit. It’s easy to tilt too far toward either the spiritual or the practical, but the kingdom is both. The challenge is to continually seek a deeper, more balanced engagement, allowing God to stretch us into new areas of knowing and doing. The time is now; there is always more to know and more to do. Let’s get out there and do the stuff.
