Sunday Rewind 10.28.07

This is the second week in our series called, "Learning to Pray" in which we are working through Jesus' response to his disciples' request for him to teach them to pray. Today, we come to Matthew 6:10.

In praying, "your kingdom come", we are pointed to the greatest hope for the disciple of Jesus Christ, the coming of God's kingdom. This world is not what it was intended to be. But one day, all the kingdoms of this earth will be swallowed up by God's kingdom of grace. In that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is the event all creation longs for. It is the thing our hope is focused on. So we pray, "your kingdom come".

In praying, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven", we recognize that God's kingdom can be experienced now. Christ's sacrifice frees us from bondage to sin. Now, the disciple of Jesus Christ is able to obey here the same way the angels do God's will in heaven. And as disciples do God's will, the kingdom is lived out, even as we wait for the coming of God's kingdom.

Want to build this type of prayer into your experience? Try praying the news. How? By putting aside the lens of your own perspective and reading through God's eyes. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• When you read stories about government, pray for world leaders. Remember that your primary citizenship is heaven. And pray, "your kingdom come".
• When you read stories about social issues, pray for those whose lives are destroyed through choices that are disobedient to God's design. Remember that there are issues in your own life for which you need forgiveness. And pray, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
• When you read stories about personalities, pray for the people being covered. Remember that you know people who are not yet part of God's kingdom. And pray for opportunities to build bridges that lead to Christ.