Thy KIngdom Come

Monday, February 19, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:    But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.—1 Corinthians 12:18

Memory verse: Romans 8:32 ►He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Today's reading:  LEVITICUS 25 MARK 1:23-45

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Kingdom come...(Matthew 6:10)...when these words come out of your mouth--when you hear yourself pray these words, what do you mean?

Jesus said, "The kingdom is within you"(Luke 17:21). So, why does Christ teach us to pray for the kingdom to come?

Christ is our king. There are over a hundred Bible verses that refer to Jesus as our king. Here is one: 1 Timothy 6:15

"...which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,"

As king, Jesus rules over His subjects-us-the born of the Spirit of God. Then why does Jesus instruct us to pray for His kingdom to come?

I suggest two reasons to consider: First, as children of God, we will be growing or should be...so, the kingdom is continuing to come into our lives all the time. His kingdom is a living thriving thing that is sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The second reason is where the first reason gets its start. The birth of a new kingdom citizen is the coming of the kingdom. I believe Christ Jesus was telling us to pray for people to be saved-for His kingdom to keep coming-for people to be reached with the saving knowledge of Christ and that knowledge to be delivered by us, his servant subjects.

This means that Christ instructed us: to pray for ourselves to grow in obedience and understanding; to pray for the harvest of souls and our parts in that harvest-our active role in His kingdom.

The devil has two jobs:one-to keep souls from being saved(to prevent God's kingdom from growing in number); two-to keep the saved from growing into those God intends for them to be. All his legions war against the coming of God's kingdom.

God's kingdom is living, working, growing in number and in spiritual substance-one mind/one purpose--us empowered by the Holy Spirit.

When you next repeat 'thy kingdom come' think about all this, please. These are the thoughts of one man. Pray on it, study it, argue if you want, add to, change-whatever the Lord leads you to-this is being part of the kingdom. God wants us to use our minds for Him and for His kingdom and He does not give all the answers to any one man or woman-it takes us all and we are all in Him.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

My desire to study is weak. Make it so strong in me that I cannot stop. Your kingdom increase!

Wise and great counselor!

In the name of Jesus,

Amen