The Lord's Prayer: Let your Kingdom come
where is His Kingdom? Jesus told us when we gather together, even just 2 of us, he's with us. he also told us the kingdom is within us. he also kept proclaiming the Kingdom is near.
so is it here or isn't it? i guess it depends on what kind of day we are having. some days we think heaven is on earth. most days resemble hell on earth. those heavenly days remind us what we are anticipating. something so good, so right, so joyous that our longing only increases.
i've usually prayed this in terms of my heart. let your kingdom invade my wicked heart.
it does.
i've prayed it for my poor, drug-infested, prostitute-trodden, kid-filled street.
it has.
i've prayed it for church relations torn by strife.
it has.
and then i've prayed it for the world. especially after i learned that there are more Christians per capita now than there has been in history. Christianity used to be a minority religion. Now its the major religion. the kingdom is coming!
i know i came to this realization backwards but i realized i'm not only praying for the kingdom to come spiritually, but i'm actually praying for Christ to return and finally set up his kingdom on earth.
that's kind of scary. he won't be taking prisoners. and so many of my friends and co-workers are not part of his kingdom. at the same time, so much suffering will end when he comes.
no kingdom will be better. of course, when Jesus walked among us, his goodness interrupted others' plans and they killed him. the Apocalypse tells us that his kingdom will be opposed also. this time, though, he strikes back and defeats his enemies. his kingdom hasn't arrived in its full manifestation yet, but that's because he is patient, he doesn't delight in punishing the wicked, he wants all to come to repentance.
some of us have wished him to return before a test at school that we didn't study for. however, some have pleaded for his return as they were tortured for their faith. how petty i am. but when i pray this prayer, i'm praying with the church at large, not just for my benefit but also for theirs. the bride is calling for her husband, who will come like a thief in the night, when we least expect it. but at least we can be confident that his return is closer now than it was last year.
come quickly Lord Jesus.
so is it here or isn't it? i guess it depends on what kind of day we are having. some days we think heaven is on earth. most days resemble hell on earth. those heavenly days remind us what we are anticipating. something so good, so right, so joyous that our longing only increases.
i've usually prayed this in terms of my heart. let your kingdom invade my wicked heart.
it does.
i've prayed it for my poor, drug-infested, prostitute-trodden, kid-filled street.
it has.
i've prayed it for church relations torn by strife.
it has.
and then i've prayed it for the world. especially after i learned that there are more Christians per capita now than there has been in history. Christianity used to be a minority religion. Now its the major religion. the kingdom is coming!
i know i came to this realization backwards but i realized i'm not only praying for the kingdom to come spiritually, but i'm actually praying for Christ to return and finally set up his kingdom on earth.
that's kind of scary. he won't be taking prisoners. and so many of my friends and co-workers are not part of his kingdom. at the same time, so much suffering will end when he comes.
no kingdom will be better. of course, when Jesus walked among us, his goodness interrupted others' plans and they killed him. the Apocalypse tells us that his kingdom will be opposed also. this time, though, he strikes back and defeats his enemies. his kingdom hasn't arrived in its full manifestation yet, but that's because he is patient, he doesn't delight in punishing the wicked, he wants all to come to repentance.
some of us have wished him to return before a test at school that we didn't study for. however, some have pleaded for his return as they were tortured for their faith. how petty i am. but when i pray this prayer, i'm praying with the church at large, not just for my benefit but also for theirs. the bride is calling for her husband, who will come like a thief in the night, when we least expect it. but at least we can be confident that his return is closer now than it was last year.
come quickly Lord Jesus.
Comments