Tuesday, February 7, 2012

His Kingdom Come

My pastor mentioned in his sermon this past weekend that Jesus taught us to pray for "His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10, italics added). For those of us who are believers that certainly is a prayer request we want answered ASAP.

Imagine the changes to society if Jesus was in power. Visualize His Kingdom as the reigning government. Envision His will accomplished in every courthouse. Picture His authority being honored and revered by all citizens. Corruption...gone. Injustice...obliterated. Honesty...praised. Virtue...extoled. That's the kind of community I want to live in.

And yet it seems as if it's an impossibility for that kind of kingdom to exist this side of heaven. I know from first-hand experience and through the stories I hear every day in my counseling office that suffering, injustice and pain are the societal norm. People hurt each other every day. Bosses abuse their employees. Government officials exploit resources for personal gain. Why would Jesus have us pray for His Kingdom to come if it wasn't possible for him to answer it? Do we need to settle for the wait of heaven?

I personally believe that He is quite desirous to answer our prayer request. And I think as we humbly surrender our will to His, He answers the prayer by placing His Kingdom into our hearts. As His Kingdom resides in us through His Spirit, He shapes us and transforms our characters. If that happens to me and to you and our churches, then His Kingdom will come culturally as well. As His Spirit  spreads from person to person, communities are changed. And so we say, "Yes, Lord Jesus, let your Kingdom come!"

~Shannon Shertzer, MS, NCC

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