The Upside-Down Kingdom

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

September 14th Sermon, Day 2

The values of God's kingdom often stand in stark contrast to the values of our world. Our culture celebrates strength, success, influence, and self-sufficiency. We admire those who have it all together, who need nothing from anyone.

But Jesus introduces us to an upside-down kingdom with radically different values. In this kingdom, blessing doesn't come to those who have achieved the most but to those who recognize their need the most. Think about the cultural messages that bombard us daily: be strong, be independent, be sufficient. Now contrast that with Jesus' message: acknowledge your weakness, embrace your dependence, recognize your insufficiency apart from God.

This isn't just counter-cultural—it's counter-intuitive. We naturally want to hide our weaknesses and showcase our strengths. But in God's kingdom, our admission of weakness becomes the very channel through which His strength flows. The beautiful paradox of the gospel is that our emptiness becomes the space where God's fullness dwells.

Our poverty becomes the stage for His riches. Our admission of need becomes the doorway to His provision. Today, instead of hiding your weaknesses or pretending to have it all together, try embracing your need for God. There's freedom in admitting that you don't have all the answers, that you can't do it all on your own.

Bible Verse

"For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10

Reflection Question

In what ways have you been trying to appear strong or self-sufficient to others or to God, and how might embracing your weakness actually allow God's strength to be more visible in your life?

Quote "The Romans of that day would have said, blessed are the strong, blessed are the victorious. Blessed is Caesar. The Greeks might have said, blessed are the wise, the philosophers, the enlightened. In our day, we say, blessed are the influencers, the beautiful, right, the successful. But Jesus comes along and says, blessed are the poor in spirit."

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I've been taught to value strength and self-sufficiency, but You call me to acknowledge my weakness. Help me to find freedom in dependence on You and to experience Your strength flowing through my limitations. Amen.