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Past Ponderings

Monday, August 8, 2016

PONDERING... Desiring God’s Will (Matthew 6:10)

Desiring God’s Will 

GIST: We need His kingdom because it is best. 
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:10
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

As it is in Heaven: A Little Context Continuing our discussion of the Lord's Prayer, we come to the second sentence. Like in the first, Jesus is making sure our hearts are in the right place from the beginning of the prayer. First, we remember who God is to us as believers, our Holy and Loving Father, because of the price Jesus paid...and no merit of our own. This second sentence continues with remembering the truth about both God and our position in Him.
It is important to note that these phrases are both connected to the same condition: Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We are asking that His kingdom come like it is in Heaven, and that His will be done like it is in Heaven. This might go without saying, but both are perfect in Heaven. God's kingdom is not of this world, but in Heaven it is fully revealed and untainted by sin. Likewise, in this context, His will is done...period. So simply put, we are asking that life here on earth be like Heaven. So, let's break down some take away from these two requests. 
 
Thy Kingdom Come (as it is in Heaven)
1. The world, including us, needs His Kingdom It might be fitting that this conversation happens to coincide with a presidential election...but we'd see the applications either way. Sadly, our world isn't in a good place. Why? Not because of republicans or democrats, or even radical terrorist. The world is in the shape it's in because it has rejected God's kingdom. Trying to "do life" on our own, or our way is sin. Though it's definitely not popular to say this in our highly individual-centered, American culture, which has a knee-jerk reaction to any word with a "king" root, it's true. Pride is the root of sin, and pride rejects any rule, but our own. The results... well, look at what Paul says in Romans 1:28-31 "28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." We pray for his kingdom to come because we need it. Only in His kingdom do true justice and mercy reign.
2. We need to want His control Now, I understand that this probably looks about like the first point, but there is a subtle difference. Knowing that we need something and wanting that something are not the same thing. I know I probably need to get up every morning and exercise. However, most mornings, probably 9.9/10, my knowing and my wanting are at odds...and my pillow proves himself highly persuasive. Being reminded of our need, we need to ask God to mold our hearts to desire Him.
3.…For Everyone And again, like in our prayer for holiness, we desire this for the entire world. We want those around us not only to realize they need His kingdom--Paul tells us they get that "32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die"--but that they want it. This only happens through salvation--which we should be praying for.


Thy Will Be Done (As it is in Heaven) This second request is very much like the first. His will is done when His kingdom comes. However, for us, I think there are at least two really important take aways here, as well.
1. We should be willing to submit Jesus illustrates this for us in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prays, 'not my will, but Yours be done'. We see the same attitude reflect in many of the psalms of prayer, or prayers of men like Moses. Frequently these requests start with a complaint (How long will..., or My enemies surround me...,), but quickly move to, but I know _____ truth about You God, and because of this, I know Your will is best, and I trust in this and love You for it. So often by the end of the prayer, it almost seems like a different person is praying... and that's the point. We submit not because we have no other choice, but because even if we could entertain all the choices in the world, they would all be rubbish compared to His will. 
2. Because we have every reason to trust Why? Word two. He's our Father! I was studying this verse when we were in Gatlinburg a few weeks back, and it really hit home. We went to this attraction called "The Tomb" where, essentially, you were trapped...in a tomb :D...and your group had to solve certain problems to try and escape. We knew a little about this before we went in and had warned the kids that it might seem a little "scary", but it would all be in fun. We expected some fear, but honestly, not from Jedidiah. When we got there he was his normal talkative, curious self. In fact, he was trying to break into the Tomb early! However, when the lights went out, he was standing in front of me...and he bolted, or he would have had I not been there to catch him. He was ready to leave. In fact, that's exactly what he said, "I think I want to go now." We tried to assure him everything was just pretend, but it didn't seem to matter, and I am now at least happy to report if in a similar situation for real, he will do everything within his power to escape. Pretty quickly, I just picked him up and had him look at me, a feat not easy for my energetic five-year old to maintain under normal circumstances, let alone a moment of panic, but he did it. Looking at him, I asked him one question: "Do you trust me?"
He said, "yes". 
"Would I do anything to hurt you?" 
"No" 

From that point on, he went forward, and ended up having a great time. Now, he didn't immediately. He was still scared and had no idea why I was letting him stay in a room with a mummy who was threatening to kill us. BUT, he trusted me. It was humbling really, and really shed some serious light on this request in the Lord's Prayer. We need His kingdom, we should want His control, and submit to His will because we trust Him...because He's our Daddy. It doesn't have to make sense, and often it won't. That's not the prayer. The prayer is "help me remember to trust you, even when I want to run as far away from where You've taken me as possible." 


Let's pray.


NOTE: Again, to avoid any semblance of plagiarism, I want to acknowledge Tim Keller as an invaluable resource in understanding these points.

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