Ready?

Matthew 6:10a & Luke 11:2b “your kingdom come”
 
DO you really want to pray this? As Jesus’ disciples had asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus responded with the framework of a purposeful prayer with “The Lord’s Prayer.” Among the seven petitions of this prayer, our Lord taught that our prayers should 1) Address and honor God relationally with “Father”. 2) Elevate God’s name to be holy in your heart and throughout the world.  3) Desire the kingdom to come. What does “kingdom come” mean? 
    “Kingdom of God” has several meanings as we will explore. But we can know that a kingdom is the rule of a king, isn’t it? Jesus came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth with the gospel message. The Kingdom became evident through Jesus’ Father-directed and Spirit-powered ministry. God in three Persons was unified for the Kingdom work. Jesus was the Trinity’s physical form to personally reveal God’s plan to re-establish his full reign over all the earth one day.
    The Bible tells us God is a planner. He knows what his eternal earthly rule with look like, and he has graciously given us a view. Many Old Testament scriptures, for example, reveal this fulfilled age. Zechariah 14:9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. This is the plan. Jesus teaches us to pray for the plan to be fulfilled.
    Now, you may ask, “As God will complete his plan, why pray for it?” One purpose of prayer is to focus our hearts on the hope of God and his eternal plan. Jesus has instructed all of us to keep our minds thinking forward into God’s ultimate reign on earth. The Lord wants to hear our trusting hearts call on him to come. He desires you speak your faith. Praying “your kingdom come”, you are telling the Lord, “I long for your reign to be complete throughout the earth again. Eagerly I anticipate the day you will free us from sin, so our lives will know unrestrained peace and joy. I give my life to you, Lord.”
    Yes, “your kingdom come” is an expression of expectant love to the hallowed Father. You are eager to see him face-to-face, to live in the King’s eternal home prepared for you. John 14:2-4 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Great is the love and joy the King offers to all who are saved from sin.    
   Now I again ask, “Do you really want to pray this? Will the holy God welcome you with, ‘Come, my child, into my mansion?’ If you do not have such assurance, if you are not ready for the kingdom to come, then it’s time for you to pray that the King is the King of your life.