“Thy kingdom come; thy will be done…”[1] Have you ever given serious thought to this prayer that we pray regularly? It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Communal. Easy. Familiar. Those first two words are enough to hold us for a lifetime, aren’t they? “Our Father.” Your father and my father; our shared parent who loves, protects, heals, and welcomes each of us and all people everywhere.
Like so many things familiar, it is easy to take it for granted over time. My guess is that more often than not, we read, say, and pray it almost by rote without giving any real attention to it at all.
The disciples said, “Jesus teach us how to pray…”[2] Has anyone ever asked that prayer? Teach me how to pray and what to pray for. Give me words or presence or understanding; teach me how. Jesus replied, “When you pray, do not heap up empty words like the Gentiles [non-believers] do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. But pray then in this way: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”[3]
What are we saying really? What is the kingdom of God and what does it look like? Has God’s kingdom come already in Jesus Christ and what is the work left for believers since then? Who participates in it and what difference does it make? And when/what/where/how is that kingdom to come in our lifetime?
In me and my church? What does God’s kingdom look like in Runnymede Christian Fellowship and how can we be sure?
This is an important prayer – probably more significant than any time in recent years: Good Lord, may your kingdom come on the earth, in Egham, in my home, and workplace. May your kingdom come in me as it is in heaven.
Your Kingdom come in me
“Thy kingdom come; thy will be done…”[1] Have you ever given serious thought to this prayer that we pray regularly? It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Communal. Easy. Familiar. Those first two words are enough to hold us for a lifetime, aren’t they? “Our Father.” Your father and my father; our shared parent who loves, protects, heals, and welcomes each of us and all people everywhere.
Like so many things familiar, it is easy to take it for granted over time. My guess is that more often than not, we read, say, and pray it almost by rote without giving any real attention to it at all.
The disciples said, “Jesus teach us how to pray…”[2] Has anyone ever asked that prayer? Teach me how to pray and what to pray for. Give me words or presence or understanding; teach me how. Jesus replied, “When you pray, do not heap up empty words like the Gentiles [non-believers] do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. But pray then in this way: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”[3]
What are we saying really? What is the kingdom of God and what does it look like? Has God’s kingdom come already in Jesus Christ and what is the work left for believers since then? Who participates in it and what difference does it make? And when/what/where/how is that kingdom to come in our lifetime?
In me and my church? What does God’s kingdom look like in Runnymede Christian Fellowship and how can we be sure?
This is an important prayer – probably more significant than any time in recent years: Good Lord, may your kingdom come on the earth, in Egham, in my home, and workplace. May your kingdom come in me as it is in heaven.