Your Kingdom Come“This, then, is how you should pray:
…Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” -Matthew 6:9a, 10
Most of us are familiar with this part of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”. (Actually, we might call this the disciple’s prayer, since it was for His followers to pray. Do you want to read the “real” “Lord’s Prayer”? Read John 17!!)
It is clear that Jesus intended this prayer as a pattern for the praying disciple. God’s priorities and heart are outlined in this prayer, giving us a model that we do well to not stray from as we cry out to Him.
Some segments of His Church over the centuries have taken to repeating this prayer word for word, and while that certainly can’t hurt, my gut is that
repeating this prayer verbatim is not what Jesus intended when He originally gave it. I base that opinion on verse 7 of the chapter where He tells us to not be involved in “empty repetition” or “vain babbling”. Now certainly this is not a prohibition against written or memorized prayers as such, however it IS a strong warning against just repeating things to be repeating them, regardless of how “holy” they sound. There is to be meaning and growing understanding in all our praying, and the praying disciple has the delightful opportunity to grow in understanding and passion as we learn from other disciples and from Jesus Himself by His Spirit!
Have you thought about the prayer “Your Kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? Has that ever seemed just a bit strange to you? What does it mean? How do I pray with this as a pattern without just repeating religious words?
I guess it starts with a growing understanding of just what the Kingdom is that we’re praying would come. Is the Kingdom heaven? I don’t think so… wouldn’t it be kind of silly to pray for heaven to come? Of course in His presence His will is done, so in a sense we do pray that way… “Let the complete submission to your will that exists in heaven be here on earth!” I like that!
Heaven is heaven not because of streets of gold or whatever you associate with “paradise”! (Sandy beaches anyone?!?) Heaven is heaven because the King is present and His will reigns supreme! When I pray for His Kingdom to come, I am asking Jesus to work in me and those around me and my circumstances and situation and my influence so that He will reign supreme where I am! This presumes that I am submitting to the King! Right? It’s a great place to start… “Lord, let your Kingdom come in me!” Then, as an ambassador of the King I begin to spread the “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” that characterizes the Kingdom. (Romans 14:17)
Where and how can His Kingdom come in your life and in the situation where you find yourself and where you have influence? Think about it! Dream! Let faith rise in your heart! Let boldness rise in your heart! God wants His Kingdom represented, released, and established in and through you… and all of His disciples.
What an adventure awaits the ones who will pray in faith…
Pastor Tom
