HIS KINGDOM HAS COME
Our country, as well as the world, is in a storm of confusion and chaos. We keep hoping that we can elect a person or a party who will make everything okay, and even though Trump’s administration is making some positive changes we must realize that neither the Democrat nor Republican party can resolve the issues that we have. Only Christ and his kingdom can bring resolution to our problems and peace to the country. So, we just wait and pray, right? NO!
Prayer should always be our first priority, but are we praying what God wants or what we want? We get frustrated with crooked politicians and lying media and find our prayers filled with anger, frustration, and vengeance while we hope that God will “get them” or “punish them.” What exactly would be the perfect prayer for times like these?
While ministering in a nursing home, I often heard a certain denomination praying “thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I recognized the empathy of their prayers, but often wondered if they really knew what they were saying or was it just the required scripture for ministering to the sick and dying?
The Lord’s Prayer was Christ’s answer to “How should we pray?” If He said we should pray this way, what did he really mean? What is the kingdom that is coming? When is God’s will done in earth and heaven? Is it only when Christ comes again that everything is drastically changed?
We understand that Jesus came to be the lamb offering for our sins, but in all reality, Jesus taught and preached on the kingdom more than salvation. He talked about the kingdom 126 times and others talked about it 34 more times. Everywhere he went he attempted to explain the kingdom. John the Baptist said “the kingdom was at hand” prior to baptizing Jesus. Jesus reminded his disciples that “the kingdom was at hand.” At hand does not mean 2000 years from then. No, it meant at that moment the kingdom had come. King Jesus proclaimed it.
As members of “the kingdom” it is our responsibility to see that the way things are done in Heaven are done on earth. You might say, “How do I know how things are done in Heaven?” The answers are in your Bible. Jesus gave us all the keys to the kingdom, but we just need to take time to search them out. It is important to know what our Constitution provides and regulates, but even more what the kingdom we live in requires.
We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20) We represent our kingdom to this country and to the world. We must still honor and respect the laws of this land, but live a life that shows the values of our kingdom. Scripture says, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”. This passage is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
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​How can we see that heaven comes to earth? We start with ourselves. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” We are to love others, as we love ourselves. We are to act with kindness and service towards others, demonstrating compassion and generosity. We are encouraged to be hospitable, encouraging one another, and striving to live in a way that reflects the teachings of Jesus. We are encouraged to love our enemies, forgiving those who wronged us, and seeking to serve other’s needs. We should love nature and appreciate all that God has created endeavoring to protect it from those who would destroy it for monetary gain.
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The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and we are in service to our King Jesus. Let us be found faithful in all that He asks of us. We will change this country from the inside out with the love of God.
kln