The Kingdom of God is within you

by MARCIA HUFSTADER
member, Third Church of Christ, Scientist

Asked when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus stunned the listener by declaring it had arrived and was within him (Luke 17). I can imagine their surprise: “Within me! How could that be?” From materialist thinking, this concept is hard to grasp, but Jesus was referring to the man created in God’s image and likeness.

So what is it that is “within us”? Each of God’s ideas-man-has within them the reign and rule of harmony governing all. Having the Kingdom of God within is the conscious awareness of God’s goodness. An example would be the sense of peace and joy we feel. Expecting to be aware of God’s goodness, we actually see things differently-we notice the good in others, we experience a calm and sense of purpose. The Kingdom within is the way that Father, Mother, God maintains, sustains and protects His/Her creation on a moment-to-moment basis.

Recently, a friend remarked that we need to have confidence in the Kingdom. I’ve been considering that statement ever since. Do I have confidence that the reign of Truth and Life (two of the synonyms Mary Baker Eddy uses to refer to God) is all-powerful, the only source of all good, health, supply and happiness? Do I understand that is the power that governs me from within, given to me from God?

We can learn to yield to that power by letting go of preconceived ideas that usually come from matter-based thinking, from which there is concern, limitation and fear. It’s time to rejoice and yield to the fact that the Kingdom of God is within each of us, liberating, directing and supporting our every step. It’s a present possibility!