Citizen of God's Kingdom - 1

There is a series of passages, where Jesus describes several traits that belong to a citizen of God's kingdom.

The first passage is the persistent widow. She is a woman with a serious legal issue. Because she is a widow. she does not have a family that will work on her behalf. And she cannot afford to hire an attorney. And the situation is serious enough that she goes to the judge handling the case every day to remind him of her side of the story, and why it would be unfair for him to decide on behalf of the other party.

The judge does not really care one way or the other. But he finally decides to make the decision on her behalf, because she is driving him crazy.

Jesus is not trying to point out that people are like the widow, and God is like the judge. God has a genuine love, and concern, for people. His heart is to do good for people. His heart is to listen openly, with an open heart, and complete attention. His heart is to give generously -- unless giving will harm the person.

A citizen of God's kingdom recognizes, and understands, God's heart. He recognizes the willingness to listen, to understand, and to give. So, he has no shame in opening his heart.

Because God's heart is open to listen, we can be confident of bringing the same issue over, and over, and over again. Indeed, we should be confident with God's willingness to listen, and desire to hear us, that we should be eager to bring the same request, over and over, until God speaks to us, and reveals this issue cannot be answered as we would like it to be.

But, we see God's patience, love, grace, and sensitivity. We can be confident that his heart is for us, and our best. We can be confident that our relationship is important to him.