Friday, August 10, 2007
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, YOUR KINGDOM COME
Jesus here teaches us to pray with an attitude of submission to God's gracious rule, for the Kingdom of God is simply the rule and reign of God. Furthermore, the emphasis in the phrase "kingdom of God" is not on God's rule being almighty but rather on the fact that He has re-established His rule in our hearts and lives by reclaiming us through the redeeming life and sacrificial death of His Son. This rule God initiates in us when the Holy Spirit causes us to put our heart's confidence in the Lord Jesus.
Our sinful human nature doesn't like to submit to anyone or anything -- even God. Make that especially God. In fact, by nature we don't even like the word "submission". We know such attitudes lurk within us, so as Christ's people we welcome this prayer-instruction from our Lord. We know we need to give ourselves more completely into the hands of our Savior-God, so we recognize God's claim on us in Christ and pray His gracious rule extend to every area of our hearts and lives -- and not ours only.
Your Kingdom come, we humbly pray.
That Christ may rule in us today
And that Your Holy Spirit bring,
Still more to worship Christ as King.
Break Satan's power, defeat his rage;
Preserve Your Church from age to age.
(Vater unser im Himmelreich III, Martin Luther)
