Life In The Kingdom

Scripture:  Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) – “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

Message: I couldn’t have picked a more famous Scripture if I tried, but for many years I didn’t know it was a Scripture, I just thought it was Jesus’ favorite prayer.  I never spent time to truly interpret it.  As a kid and, truthfully, until I reached my retirement, my prayer life was regulated to the Lord’s Prayer.

Recently, the phase “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” intrigued me.  I thought entry into the Kingdom could only be attained when we ascended into heaven or at the time of Jesus’ second coming.  Now I’ve learned from recent theological journals, that it is here on earth, all around us if we are willing to search it out.  Interpreting the prayer the way Jesus intended implies the Kingdom is already here on earth.

What does it mean to live in the Kingdom of God?  This is the difference between being a Christian in name only, and in experiencing the life that Jesus makes possible for each of us.  It’s not just about being a good guy so we can go to heaven when we die.  Living in the Kingdom of God is not like the human worldly kingdom of social media, appearances and instant gratification.  The Kingdom of God is Spiritual; the Spirit connects us to the way Jesus lived His life.  We need to reset our minds.  Let’s re-orientate our life, realizing there is a Spiritual reality that is founded by God.  This is the true pathway to Peace.

Prayer: Dear God, since Your Son’s birth, I truly believe God’s Kingdom is around us all the time.  Help me feel its presence in my daily life and through Your Will to search it out.  Teach me to be more like Your Son in my every day walk with You, so that the Spirit will always be shining in me and onto others.  Lead me to become a loyal citizen in the Kingdom of God.  In Your Holy name.  Amen.

Jim McElhose