40 Days to Discovering God’s Big Idea for Your Life

WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HEARD ABOUT THE FAME OF SOLOMON AND HIS RELATION TO THE NAME OF THE LORD, SHE CAME TO TEST HIM WITH HARD QUESTIONS. ARRIVING AT JERUSALEM WITH A VERY GREAT CARAVAN—WITH CAMELS CARRYING SPICES, LARGE QUANTITIES OF GOLD, AND PRECIOUS STONES—SHE CAME TO SOLOMON AND TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT ALL THAT SHE HAD ON HER MIND. SOLOMON ANSWERED ALL HER QUESTIONS; NOTHING WAS TOO HARD FOR THE KING TO EXPLAIN TO HER.

SHE SAID TO THE KING, “THE REPORT I HEARD IN MY OWN COUNTRY ABOUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND YOUR WISDOM IS TRUE. BUT I DID NOT BELIEVE THESE THINGS UNTIL I CAME AND SAW THEM WITH MY OWN EYES. INDEED, NOT EVEN HALF WAS TOLD ME; IN WISDOM AND WEALTH YOU HAVE FAR EXCEEDED THE REPORT I HEARD” (1 KINGS 10:1-3,6-7).

The purpose behind a Kingdom community is to reflect the greatness and glory of the King. Citizens of the community are under the rule of the King and come to manifest His nature. In other words, the people take on the characteristics of the King, display the qualities of the King, and exhibit the culture of the King. As a matter of fact, the quality and nature of any kingdom can be recognized first not by the presence of the king but by the lifestyle of his citizens. Seeing how the people in a kingdom live reveals a great deal about their king.

That’s how kingdoms work. Kingdoms are manifested in the culture of the people. So the quality of the community is a manifestation or reflection of the quality of the king.

1. In your opinion, are the believers in the Western world reflective of God’s glory? Why or why not?

2. What are five steps that believers can take to reflect better the glory of God’s love and tender mercy?

3. What does your reputation say about your role as a child of the King? Do people immediately know that you are not of this world?

4. “When you are born into wealth, you don’t talk about wealth. God’s ultimate goal is to bring that kind of life on Earth.” Why is it hard for believers to accept the wealth of the Kingdom that God freely offers to them?

5. What is the difference between living within walls of latex and walls of gold?

When we pray for the Kingdom, our prayer encompasses all we could ever need or desire because with the Kingdom comes access to everything, all the resources of Heaven. This is why Jesus also told us not to worry about what we would eat, drink, or wear, or about any other thing, but to seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God, for with the Kingdom comes everything else. Our future is tied up in the culture of the King. Therefore our prayer should be, “Lord, let Your Kingdom be manifested in us. Make us into a community that represents Your country and Your culture. May our common unity be a reflection of Your glory to a watching world.”