Friday, July 8, 2022
“Pray, then, in this way … ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10.
The state of the world is not good. If ever there were dreams and hopes for human utopia, these surely are greatly dimmed in light of current conditions. Environmental, economic, political, and diplomatic solutions seem well beyond reach. Present problems appear to loom larger than our abilities to solve.
We understand that the kingdoms of this age are in a state of decay: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” Romans 8:19-22.
We personally need the kingdom of God to come, as does all of the natural creation. But, praying for the kingdom to come isn’t just about pining for the perfect age. To pray for the kingdom to come is to make oneself available for the work of the kingdom now.
Something of the coming kingdom can break through today as we pray for it. In the most basic sense, the kingdom of God is where God reigns fully, and we can be conduits for Him to reign in and through us today. The act of sharing the gospel with others is to allow the reign of God to flow out from us. To show compassion for others in charitable deeds is to allow the kingdom to be present. To allow the fruit of the Spirit to be manifested in us is to cultivate something of the kingdom that can be observable and influential to others.
I would like to think that sharing these thoughts with you is in harmony with the prayer for the kingdom to come. As your thoughts and prayers turn to the coming kingdom, and a breakthrough of that kingdom today, we have partnered together in this great prayer.
May your experience and share the joy and hope of the coming kingdom today.
Pastor Steve
“Pray, then, in this way … ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10.
The state of the world is not good. If ever there were dreams and hopes for human utopia, these surely are greatly dimmed in light of current conditions. Environmental, economic, political, and diplomatic solutions seem well beyond reach. Present problems appear to loom larger than our abilities to solve.
We understand that the kingdoms of this age are in a state of decay: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” Romans 8:19-22.
We personally need the kingdom of God to come, as does all of the natural creation. But, praying for the kingdom to come isn’t just about pining for the perfect age. To pray for the kingdom to come is to make oneself available for the work of the kingdom now.
Something of the coming kingdom can break through today as we pray for it. In the most basic sense, the kingdom of God is where God reigns fully, and we can be conduits for Him to reign in and through us today. The act of sharing the gospel with others is to allow the reign of God to flow out from us. To show compassion for others in charitable deeds is to allow the kingdom to be present. To allow the fruit of the Spirit to be manifested in us is to cultivate something of the kingdom that can be observable and influential to others.
I would like to think that sharing these thoughts with you is in harmony with the prayer for the kingdom to come. As your thoughts and prayers turn to the coming kingdom, and a breakthrough of that kingdom today, we have partnered together in this great prayer.
May your experience and share the joy and hope of the coming kingdom today.
Pastor Steve