BLESSED BE THE REIGN OF THE LORD GOD OUR FATHER THE KING
Ancestry played a significant role in biblical history and sort of rubbed off on some of us descendants of whoever from wherever. Although, as Americans, we tend to play down our heritage, nonetheless it exists and through the years has had an impact on who we are, what we believe, and how we behave today.
Recently, at a Pastor Appreciation Luncheon, the multi-cultural Church of which I am a member honored our five pastors – all of them Americans but with five ancestries: European, African, Hispanic, Korean, Vietnamese. To those of us who sought for years to develop such a fellowship, this was a big deal.
When we go back in history to trace our roots, we learn that there was a time in the distant past when our kinfolks were part of a type of tribal or clan or “house of . . .” hierarchy – ruled by chieftains or patriarchs or kings. One thing all of these hierarchies had in common was their reference to themselves as “kingdoms”. Thus, my ancestors in Scotland were connected, in one way or another, to the Kilmaurs Kingdom – with all its castles and clans and various brands of paraphernalia by which they identified themselves.
In Christ, we make no such distinctions inasmuch as we are one in the bond of love, but in context is how we interpret the Bible which originated back yonder when there was no such precept as “love thy neighbor”. Rivalry and warfare . . . every man for himself . . . to the victor went the spoils . . . survival of the fittest and fastest.
All of this is to point out that, therefore, we speak of the kingdom of God in the context of biblical times, although the kingdom concept might be understood more clearly if we think of it in terms of that which we have been talking about in our Bible studies – Community of Believers . . . The Church of Jesus Christ . . . The Family of God.
However, exact terminology really doesn’t matter as long as we understand what we mean when we say, as we pray to Father God, “Your kingdom come”.
Whose kingdom is it that we pray to come? God’s! And, in a very real sense, hasn’t His kingdom already come? Remember what John the Baptizer announced: “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Of whom was John speaking? Yes … of Him who declared, “My kingdom is not of this world.” So,
“Your kingdom” - the one we pray for - is that eternal community in which God rules as King, with authority over His people, all who have accepted His invitation:
“Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, receive your inheritance - the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34).
Folks, our Father in Heaven is also our King in Heaven. “I am a child of God.” Therefore, “I am a child of the King.” Blessed be the name and the reign of the Lord God our Father the King!
Furthermore, when we pray for His kingdom to come, it follows logically and theologically that we should also pray for His Will to be done. Ideally, it would be great if the doing of our Father’s Will were patterned after the doing of His Will in Heaven - an ideal we pray for . . . strive for . . . set our sights on . . . aim to achieve.
Q: What does it mean for God’s Will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
Jesus prayed, “Father, if it be thy Will, let this bitter cup pass from me . . . Nevertheless, not my Will but Thine be done.” With that expression of humility . . . dependence on His Father . . . surrender to His Father’s Will, even though to do so was to suffer so cruelly, Jesus bowed to the authority of the Eternal One whose character is holiness and therefore can do no wrong but works in and through all situations to bring about that which is best for those who love Him.
Who better than the “faith without works is dead” pastor of the Jerusalem Church in Christ to talk about how we surrender our will to the will of God! James reduces the concept of surrender to its lowest common denominator via the use of one word - then by amplifying that one-word theme - James 4:6-10 . . . 13-17 . . .
What we have here (v6 and v10) is a one-word directive on how we surrender our will to the will of God. James says, “God gives grace to the humble” … “Humble yourselves”. To humble yourself before God is to take the initiative to self-correct your attitude - before God corrects it for you by resisting your pride.
Individuals who suffer from egotistical pride cannot bring themselves to bow before the Lord in submission to His authority – a trait characteristic of deniers and defiers of the Christian way of life. Neither could we - prior to our conversion! “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart!” We had to swallow our pride, or else!
God’s grace transforms pride into humility which makes it possible for us to surrender to God’s authority – a submission which, in turn, empowers the child of God to resist the devil and to draw near to God. We can’t have it both ways!
Folks often associate humility with weakness. Not so! Humility before God strengthens one’s relationship to God so that sons of God can meet the devil head on with the Word of God as did Jesus in the wilderness – a Spirit-led resistance by which Jesus proved that the devil is vulnerable, not invincible!
How can it be that little ole me and we who are not known for our charisma can muster the courage to take on the devil? Well, James says that humility opens the door of access to Almighty God so that we can come boldly before His throne, and there we receive mercy and grace to help in time of need! God gives courage!
For sure, the Lord is our Helper! If we want our lives to be flooded with God’s grace for the facing of any trial or for getting through any situation, total surrender preceded by spiritual cleansing (of hands, heart, lips, mind) precipitates the outpouring of God’s grace sufficient for every need.
Christians who truly desire to have God’s power unleashed in their lives are admonished by James to take spiritual cleansing seriously --- by examining ourselves to see if there be any sinful tendency in us that needs to be dealt with, and deal with it!
After all, humility that led to cleansing which, in turn, beget spiritual power derived from godly sorrow over sins against God. Think about it: We began our quest for a right relationship with God when we went through a “period” of sorrow after we became aware that our sin had separated us from God. We repented, we received Christ into our lives.
In humility we confessed our sins . . . we committed ourselves and our ways unto the Lord Who cleansed and made us whole . . . then endued us with spiritual power plus courage to resist the devil and his schemes so that the doing of God’s will might become the motivating factor for all that we think . . . say . . . do.
The doing of God’s will, if it is to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, has to be an ongoing effort, not a “hit and miss” proposition nor “if you feel like it” but a way of life! Thus, procrastination has no place in the living out of our days as if there is always going to be a tomorrow. Mama advised me, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
Doubly important in the spiritual realm of living! Today is the day!
Duty demands it . . . Devotion to God calls for it . . . Desire to disseminate God’s grace motivates it --- Doing God’s Will on earth as it is in heaven (the way of life)!
The Christian Cause to which we subscribe cannot afford for us to lose sight of the fact that life on earth is short . . . there is no promise of tomorrow on earth . . . although we do not know what the future holds, we do know into whose hands we have committed our future - our plans, our uncertainties, our fears, our hopes! So:
Rather than boast about eternal security as if there is nothing worthwhile left for us to do, let us believe that we must still be about out Father’s business of doing whatever good we can do in whatever way we can for as long as we can.
Therefore, continue as you are - day by day, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith, approaching each new day and each evening in the manner taught by Jesus -“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” - by saying as you pray, “If the Lord wills, I will”!
Now, as we part one from the other, let us do so by saying to each other, “The Lord willing, I’ll see you next time.” Amen.
