The
kingdom of God that Jesus announces as present here and now is not a religious
piece of the world pie that God takes a special interest in and enlists us, his
followers to partake of and be filled with, a world that specializes in prayer
and worship, giving witness and doing good deeds. No, it comprises Everything
and Everyone. There is no other world. There are elements in the world that
rebellion against the kingdom. There are parts of the world that are ignorant
of the kingdom. No matter. What Jesus inaugurates and proclaims is present and
comprehensive reality. Nothing takes place outside the kingdom of God.
When
we pray, “Your kingdom come, we identify and offer ourselves as participants in
this world in which God rules in love and salvation. Implicit in this petition
is “My kingdom go….” God has never abdicated his throne. Under conditions in
which his rule is frequently denied, challenged daily, often ignored, we pray,
“Your kingdom come.”
… So when we pray, “Your
kingdom come,” praying the petition with Jesus praying at our side, we are at
the same time implicitly affirming the rule as revealed in Jesus. And we give
up second-guessing everything that we can’t understand or don’t approve of.
Many of Jesus’ parables provide insights into this kingdom – and we need all
the help we can get. For the way that God exercises his sovereignty is hidden. God’s
sovereignty is seldom obvious. The obscurity is a breeding ground for grudging
comments: “If I were God, this is not the way I would do it.” But I am not God.
Let God be God.
…We must be cautious that
we do not isolate the term “kingdom” and the concept of sovereignty from the
Jesus who teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come.” Jesus also demonstrates the
way God’s rule is exercised. And the cross of Jesus provides the focus. For
this is not a kingdom imposed on us or anyone else. It is a kingdom that comes
into being as we willingly obey and imaginatively pray our participation in the
rule. The impatient sovereignty of a dictator does not permit
non-participation. The sovereignty of our Father patiently, mercifully waits
for worshiping obedience.
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