Your Kingdom Come

05/10/24 • 2 min

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“This . . . is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. . . .’” — Matthew 6:9-10 Most of us face many, many choices each day. What clothes will I wear? What will I have for breakfast? What route will I take to work? What do I need at the store? Which tasks will I focus on? There is one choice, however, that is far more important than all the others: Which kingdom will I serve? Where will I spend my best efforts—in the kingdom of God or in the kingdom or domain or country or community or family that I am dwelling in? Jesus teaches us to pray, “Father . . . your kingdom come.” As we pray these words, we are making a commitment to living God’s way. “Your kingdom come” means, first of all, “Rule over me! Master my soul. Make me a loyal citizen of your kingdom.” It means, “Lord, rule in my life and master me in such a way that my deepest desire is to walk with you. May your principles and ways be the air that I breathe.” “Your kingdom come” also means, “Help me to see your kingdom advance in the people around me—my family, friends, classmates, coworkers, and neighbors. Help me to foster a love for kingdom living in them as well.” This also means seeing institutions and organizations align with the principles of God’s kingdom. And as the Lord’s kingdom comes, any forces that revolt against him will be overwhelmed and shattered. Lord, in all that I think, say, and do, may I serve to advance your kingdom in my life and in the world around me. Lord, I pray today, ‘Your kingdom come!’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Do Justice and Love Mercy

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8 The prophet Micah spoke out for the Lord against the unjust practices of his day. He pictured people asking how they might please God with offerings in order to pay for their sins: “What is it that God wants from us? How much must we sacrifice before God will be happy with us?” The answer is simple and yet profoundly life-changing: As long as you practice injustice, it doesn’t matter how much you sacrifice to God. The Lord calls you to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with him! Then you may bring your offerings and find favor with God. Get rid of your rigged scales. Stop your price gouging. End the practice of driving people into poverty so that you can buy them as servants and slaves. Practice justice. And even more than that—love mercy. Give freely to your poor neighbor rather than scheming up ways to make them your slaves. Find ways to relieve poverty rather than profiting from it. At the college where I serve as a campus minister, foreign students often struggle financially. But many of them have been embraced by local churches. On Monday mornings when they come to school, they often tell me with beaming faces how their church communities have blessed them on Sunday. God smiles along with these students as he sees his people showing love and mercy. We love you, merciful God. Teach us to love by showing mercy to others. Guide us to act with justice each day for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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Your Will Be Done

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:9-10 When we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are asking God to help us follow the example of the angels and other creatures who serve God faithfully in the heavenly realms (see Revelation 4-5). We are praying that we may have the strength and the guidance to do God’s will as we live here on earth, as citizens of God’s kingdom—here and now. As God’s children, we want to serve him willingly and cheerfully. But as anyone who has been tempted knows, there are also powerful forces, led by Satan, that try to lure God’s people away to join them in rebellion. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” All who have been redeemed through Christ are given new, eternal life. Yet we continue to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ living in us to live faithfully each day for the glory of God and his kingdom. That is why we pray, “Your will be done. . . .” In what ways are you doing God’s will today? Heavenly Father, help me to do your will today. May my every thought, word, and deed be fitting for a citizen of your kingdom! In Jesus’ name, Amen.