Day 23: Your Kingdom Come!

God’s first priority is the coming of His Kingdom. This is exemplified by the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6, verses 9 and 10, Jesus told His disciples how to pray. He set them a pattern of prayer. I don't think necessarily He meant we have to pray exactly those words, but He said, "This is the pattern, and particularly, these are your priorities." And this is what He said:

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven.”

First of all we have to establish that relationship with God as our Father, not just my Father, but our Father. Then the next phrase:

“Hallowed be Your name.”

That involves identifying with God's objective of His own glory. Then Jesus said we are to go on: Your kingdom come, [In saying that, we are identifying ourselves with God's priority in the affairs of earth. God's priority is to establish His kingdom. And in the same verse, Jesus continues:] Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (NKJ)

And we see here that it's earth where the action is. It's not getting out of earth to some ethereal realm which is God's kingdom. It's bringing God's kingdom, in reality, down to earth and that involves God's will being done on earth just the way it is in heaven. Could you believe that God's will could be done in your life just as much as it is in heaven? That's what Jesus implies.

And then a little later on in the same sixth chapter of Matthew, in verse 33, He returns to this priority and states it so clearly.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (NKJ)

So, before any of our own personal ambitions or needs, we are to put God's kingdom- the coming of God's kingdom, as priority number one for this earth and especially for God's servants on this earth. That's what we have to embrace before any of our own personal needs or ambitions or plans. And when we say, "Your kingdom come," we also say, "Your will be done on earth; [that is in me] as it is in heaven."