"Expressers" of the Kingdom
Jesus is adamant that those who follow Him are to "express" the life of the Kingdom they are by grace and faith born into. Those of the Kingdom are the "expressers" of the Kingdom standard in an unfriendly, even hostile, world. Its citizens are different as a result of their Kingdom heritage and the Kingdom lifestyle shown forth and taught by their King. The world says hate; the Kingdom says love--even those who hate you. The world says vengeance, follow the rules, and fear; the Kingdom says give, relationship, and peace. And Kingdom ways are to shine in spite of the circumstances and darkness outside of the Kingdom.
In the Gospels, Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to leaven. The ways of the Kingdom penetrate its citizens and shine, subjugate, and impress itself upon the world as leaven does upon meal.
"It is not simply that it touched particle after particle of the flour, as water might do--that would simply make a paste; or comes into contact with the whole meal, as a hand might do--that would simply move it without altering it; but leaven puts its own life into the meal and penetrates it with its living nature from center to circumstance" J. Clifford.
The Kingdom of God changes its world. It proclaims Truth, not just any truth, but the Truth of God Himself. It brings thought into captivity to Christ. It loves all. It improves life, the standard of living. It turns on the light switch in darkness. It preserves. True Leaven (The Kingdom of God) leavens the whole of the "meal" within which it is placed. The Kingdom of God as Leaven speaks to the "now" of the believer's relationship with God and their "now" affect upon the "meal" within which they are placed.
Our society needs a dose of leaven; a people so captivated by the King and His Kingdom that we lay aside all to alter it. Our society needs a "leaven" that has the Kingdom at its core, expressing only the life-standard of Christ. Leaven doesn't change its surroundings through fighting or protesting or new laws or demanding its rights but through giving its life, living the Kingdom and "expressing" the Truth--that's the example of its King, the picture of His glorious Kingdom.
Lord, move within us to live You. To lay aside all for You. To be the expression of Your Kingdom. Leaven us so that we may leaven our world. For the salvation of many, to the glory of God the Father, in the name of Christ. Amen.
And again He said, 'To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened' Luke 13:20-21 NKJV