God’s kingdom
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Jesus often spoke about the kingdom of God. He wasn’t talking about something remote but a living reality now for those who were willing to live in line with God’s will. The kingdom of God comes to our homes, churches, businesses and communities when we decide to let God take control.
It’s wonderful to see the way in which the Lord’s Prayer flows. It starts with us proclaiming that God is our Father and that we need to honour and reverence his name. That immediately leads to us into the practical task of bringing into reality the kingdom of God where we live. Incredible as it may sound, we are able to see the kingdom of God come about in our lives today, in the same way as it is in heaven. This is clearly a prayer that can only truly be prayed by people who are determined to live as disciples of Jesus. In praying this prayer, we are declaring our commitment to turn this world upside down.
I mentioned yesterday that one of the striking features of the Lord’s Prayer is that it is so short. However, its revolutionary nature means that we dare not pray it quickly. It is probably best to think of the prayer as being a model prayer. As we pray it, we need to use it to help us to reflect on what it will mean to live our lives in line with God’s will. Think, for example, of all that you will be doing today. Think of your activities, family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Reflect on your hopes, concerns and plans for the day ahead. As you pray the Lord’s Prayer you are expressing your desire that all your relationships and activities will be shaped by God’s will today.
I fear that we can get so used to the Lord’s Prayer that it is reduced to something very similar to the babbling prayers of the Gentiles, about which Jesus warned his disciples. The best way of preventing that is to pray it slowly and thoughtfully, inviting the Holy Spirit to help us to apply it radically to every part of our lives.
QUESTION
In what specific ways are you praying for God’s kingdom to come today?
PRAYER
Loving Father, may I see your kingdom coming in my life today, as I walk in step with your Spirit. Amen