July 18, 2014
Matthew 6:9-13
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
If The Lord’s Prayer is part of our regular church worship repeated every gathering, then it probably becomes too familiar, and rolls off the tongue without much thought behind it. But if it is the divine model for our prayers – as Jesus intended The Lord’s Prayer to be – then we need to renew our understanding of it so we can follow its prescription more closely. Here, again, is what the Lord gave us in Matthew 6:9 through 13:
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your
name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever.
Amen.
In the last blog, we looked at the opening statements of The Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” And we saw that it starts with recognizing the sovereignty and authority of God over all! Then comes acknowledgment of holiness – both God’s innate holiness and our imputed holiness when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s move on:
• Verse 10 – “Your kingdom come.” There are many aspects of the Kingdom explored in the scriptures, but let’s focus on one: Jesus Christ will rule all nations in righteousness and justice. It is prophesied in Psalm 2:6 through 9:
…have I set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the
LORD has said to me, “You are my Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of
Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the
earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall
dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
And in Revelation 11:15 an angel announces: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our LORD and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Further, it says in Habakkuk 2:14: “…the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
We – as His children and followers – are in training to help administer that Kingdom! For it is written in Revelation 5:9 and 10:
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to
open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings
and priest to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Are you taking this training seriously? And are you laying up treasure in the coming Kingdom? Jesus exhorted us to “…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven….” The most precious thing in God’s eyes is people! (see Revelation 18:11 through 13. To get God’s perspective on what is valuable, just reverse the list of Satan’s values!). So how many people – how much treasure – are you laying up in heaven by living your life for the Lord here and now? How many people have come to faith in Jesus Christ because of your witness unto them? If you dare pray, “Your kingdom come…,” are you living with the Kingdom in focus – to hasten its coming and to stock it with treasure for the glory of the Lord?
One more thing: The Lord Jesus laid out Kingdom principles by which His disciples are to live here on earth now! Such principles comprise the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5 through 7 (from which comes, by the way, the version of The Lord’s Prayer under consideration in this study.) So the Kingdom is not just in the future. As Jesus said in Luke 17:21, “…indeed, the kingdom of God is [now] within you.” The Kingdom is here and now – and its principles are to be lived out here and now! So when you pray, “Your kingdom come…,” you are confessing your willingness to let Jesus Christ the King rule in your heart, and to demonstrate that divine rule in your life!
Keep this in mind the next time you pray The Lord’s Prayer. Repeat the words, “Your kingdom come…,” determined to have your life reflect God’s Kingdom!