Thy Kingdom Come…
(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13
Jesus’ disciples pondered the strong words Jesus had discussed about prayer. There were those who would stand on the street corners praying long, flowing prayers so that others might view them and comment about how great the prayer was. Jesus told His disciples to take their prayers to the closet, if need be, to keep from being like that.
He reminds them very gently that the Father is in full awareness of their (our) needs even before they pray and that they should have some understanding of this.
The disciples asked for a lesson on prayer. They were much like us. They wanted to know what to pray for and how it should be done. So, Jesus told them to pray after this manner.
If you really look at the prayer, it is not about a new house or a new car. It does concern daily food with the recognition that it comes from God, no matter where you might pick it up. He says something about forgiveness to others with a reflection on our own need for forgiveness from God Himself.
But there are other values screaming from the “manner” of Jesus’ prayer model. It has to do with Kingdom, Earth, Heaven, Evil, Power and Glory. Wow!
Jesus did not dismiss the disciples to go and pray for the selfish things of life. He taught them to pray for the Sovereign Reign of God to come upon the earth and affect it as it affects heaven. He taught them to pray about the issue of evil in the creation and the justice that could be brought back to it by forgiving and being forgiven in respect to the debt we owe Him and the debt of offense others owe us. Forgiveness is the key word in the Sovereign Reign of God.
Evil can capture us and take us captive. But, through the power and might of God Almighty, we can be delivered from the captivating force of evil by lifting up the Kingdom and becoming Kingdom People.
It is the Kingdom, the Sovereign Reign of God, that drives out the forces of evil and returns light to God’s creation. The Kingdom belongs to Him and is manifested in Power and Glory and Longevity, and we get to be a part of all of that.
When you pray, check your words. Check your motives. Check your intent. The prayer Jesus modeled before these disciples was not about them. It encompassed the totality of the Reign of God. The power comes from Him. The function comes through us, and that is humbling.
God took the nation of Rome down with a group of people who placed their faith in Him. He shook the world as they proclaimed Jesus As Lord in the face of adversity. And, He will do it again and again.
Hmmm… What shall I pray today?