“Your Kingdom Come,”
As Jesus teaches us to pray, he prompts us to pray for the coming of God’s eternal Kingdom. Let us take a glimpse into what this Kingdom looks like:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”
What does it mean for us to pray this?
When we pray, “Your Kingdom come”, we align our hearts with the hope of God’s eternal Kingdom coming – the consummation of His promise to us as His People, where we will live in the light of His glory, behold Him fully and live in the new creation – free from sin, pain and death. It is in essence, to align our hearts with a sure hope that allows us to endure whatever we may in the light of our present, momentary afflictions as they are transient. In praying this, we choose to set our hearts on an eternal hope rather than focusing our hearts on that which will one day perish, that which is susceptible to decay and corruption.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As our conquering, redeemer King, Jesus ushers us into His Kingdom and promises us an eternal home with Him (John 14:1-3). In response to this, as citizens and therefore ambassadors of the Kingdom on earth, he directs us to pray for others to know him as their King and to share the Good News of his coming Kingdom with others.
Points to Pray
Thank God for sending Christ Jesus as our ransom, and who now sits at the right hand of God in glory as the conquering King who will one day return. Thank him for his kingship over your lives.
Pray for your city – pray that people may come to the knowledge of King Jesus and that he would raise up fellow labourers to share the good news about his victory over sin and death.
Pray for family and friends who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord.
Ask God to use you in proclaiming the Good News about the Kingdom of God. Ask Him for opportunities and boldness to share this with the people whom He places on your path.