COLUMNS

Great in the Kingdom

T.M. Moore

February 25, 2025

Living his name, living his soul, from the crowds he prepared under the holy Law.

– Dallán Forgaill, Amra Choluimb Chille, Irish, 6^th century^[1]

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

– Matthew 5.19

Toward the end of the 6^th century, Colum Cille (Choluimb Chille) founded the monastic community on the island of Iona off the northwest coast of Scotland. He had forsaken a royal inheritance to become a monk, and he prepared for his calling under the tutelage of the great Finnian of Clonard.

Through a variety of circumstances, not all of which are clear, Colum ended up becoming the first of the great Irish peregrini—wandering missionary/monks and scholars who evangelized Scotland and much of Europe during the 6^th and 7^th centuries.

Colum was renowned for many things, both in his day and after. Not the least of these was his mastery of divine Law, and his ability to exemplify and teach it so that others willingly took up the Law of God as their path in life. Even after his death, Colum’s example of righteousness and zeal for the Gospel lived on in the “crowds he prepared” for Kingdom living.

Greatness in the Kingdom of God is measured by just such things, as Jesus explained. Keeping the Law of God is not the way to salvation. But salvation is the way to keeping the Law and doing those good works of love for which we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2.8-10; Rom. 3.31, 7.12).

Living the Law of God brings us increasingly into the full and abundant life which Jesus gives (Jn. 10.10; Lev. 18.1-5) and makes us loving servants to the people around us. Since love is the hallmark of discipleship (Jn. 13.35), and since the Law encodes the standards of love for God and neighbors, it only makes sense that the Law of God should have a prominent place in every Christian’s life.

By living and teaching the law we may expect to have a solid and lasting impact for the Kingdom of Christ. Colum left as a legacy scores of men grounded in Scripture, trained in the application of the Law, zealous for the Gospel, skilled in preaching, and bold to take the Good News to the ends of the earth.

In Colum there was no separation of grace and Law, Gospel and the pursuit of righteousness, intense study and fervent mission. He was the whole package. He was truly great in the Kingdom of Christ in his day and beyond.

What about us? Is Kingdom greatness even something we think about or hope to attain?

We are distracted and busy in so many things that we hardly have time to think about how Kingdom greatness might be achieved. Certainly, if Jesus is to be believed, greatness in the Kingdom will not be ours apart from reading, study, and meditation in the Law of God, then living and teaching it to others.

God has called us into His Kingdom and glory through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 2.12). Jesus has assigned seeking the Kingdom and praying for its expansion as the defining priorities of our lives (Matt. 6.10, 33). Everyone wants to have some distinction by which to be identified and remembered. Given the opportunity to pursue greatness in the Kingdom of God, why would we settle for anything less?

Many, like Colum, have attained Kingdom greatness; there’s no reason why we should not strive for this as well.

Will you seek to be great in the Kingdom of God today?

For Reflection
1. What does it mean to be “great” in the Kingdom of God? Are you on a path for that?

2. How is greatness in the Kingdom different from greatness the way the world considers it?

Psalm 40.9, 10 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
LORD, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ’round,
nor will I my lips restrain—let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving LORD.

Give thanks
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

More about Colum Cille
We have prepared a 30-day devotional history of Colum Cille, drawing on his writings and others of his day. This daily study can help you understand the power of Jesus to work through faithful servants for the sake of His Kingdom.You can download this resource for free by clicking here.

Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. May I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe? It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.