The Lord’s Prayer | Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done
For the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the Lord’s Prayer, or “Disciples’ Prayer,” found in Matthew 6. Today we dig into the second part of the prayer in verse 10, where Jesus says:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
What are we praying for when we pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done?
Let’s start with Revelation 22, the very last chapter of the book. We read:
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
It sounds like God’s kingdom is coming. It sounds like his will is going to be done, right? So, if God’s kingdom is coming and his will is going to get done, why does Jesus teach his disciples to pray this prayer?
Here are three thoughts to consider about praying this prayer:
First, God’s Kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven. Think of the vision at the end of Revelation chapter 21. John sees a vision of a new heaven and new earth coming and replacing our current reality. When Jesus was interrogated before Pilate, Jesus told Pilate that he was a king, but his kingdom was not of this world. A heavenly kingdom is coming, and this world and way of life will pass away when it comes. When we pray, “your kingdom come,” we are praying for that reality to come.
Second, God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of the Heart. God’s kingdom not only points to a future reality but also points to current reality. God reigns in human hearts. “The kingdom of God is within you” or “among you,” Jesus says to his disciples. When we pray that God’s kingdom comes, we ask that his influence becomes more remarkable in our individual lives.
Third, God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of the Here and Now.Jesus talked about the kingdom using parables, and some of the parables speak of a gradual growing kingdom. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,” and “the kingdom of heaven is like yeast,” Jesus said in Matthew 13. There is this sense in which, as we live as servant missionaries in the world, exercising influence as the Church and bringing justice, peace, and reconciliation to the world, we are bringing in God’s kingdom bit-by-bit. Jesus will return to fully and finally consummate the work he began and continues today through his people.
Let me add one additional thought. Every kingdom has a king, right? Too often, we are tempted to think we are the king of our lives. We rule. We run the show. Everything revolves around me. That’s a kingdom that will inevitably topple.
But God’s Kingdom is the Kingdom where He alone is King. He rules and reigns. his will is done. And when we pray “your kingdom come,” we confess that we are not the king of the world; God is. We pray, “Father, your kingdom is more important than mine. You are the real king. I exist to serve and love you. I want to do your will in all things.”
When we pray “your kingdom come,” we confess that we are not the king of the world; God is.
Jesus also tells his disciples to pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.“
How do you think God’s will is done in heaven, where God is? Think about the angels – do you believe they question what God’s will is? No way! Angels respond to the voice of God immediately. God’s will is done thoroughly, perfectly, and joyfully in heaven.
When we pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are praying that God would give us the joy and obedience to do his will without complaining or hesitating. We pray that we would accept his invitation to live as a family of servant missionaries in this world, laying down our rights, agendas, and prideful kingdom. To pray this prayer is to declare that it’s all about God and his kingdom.
–Wade
