From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
November 14 "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom
of God; but unto those who are outside, all these things are said in
parables." Mark 4:11 By "the kingdom of God" is meant the same thing as "the
kingdom of heaven," that is, the internal kingdom set up in the heart by the
power of the Spirit--that kingdom which shall stand forever and ever, and
last when time shall be no more. This the Lord calls a mystery. And if it is
a mystery, it will have these three marks– it will be beyond nature, sense, and reason; it will be hidden from the wise and prudent; it will be revealed unto babes. Let us see if we can find these marks belonging to the
kingdom of heaven set up in the heart. It certainly is above nature, sense,
and reason, that God should dwell in a man's heart, as the Apostle says,
"Christ in you, the hope of glory;" and again, "You are the temple of the
living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them" (2 Cor.
6:16). That God should take up his abode in a man's heart; that Christ
should be in a man; and the Holy Spirit should make the body of his saints
his temple; how can nature, sense, and reason understand such a mystery as
this? When one of the ancient martyrs, I think it was Polycarp, was brought
before Trajan, when the Emperor asked him his name, he answered, "I am
Polycarp, the God-bearer, for I carry God in me!" At this answer the Emperor
laughed, and said, "Let him be thrown to the wild beasts." That was the only
answer a persecuting tyrant could give. That a man frail and feeble, whom a
lion could tear to pieces in a few moments, carried God in his bosom!--how
could the wise and prudent Trajan believe a thing so unheard of? Yet it is a
mystery revealed to babes; for they receive it in the love of it under
divine teaching, as one of the mysteries that God the Spirit makes known in
the heart.