Pray Like This

For much of my youth, one of the most discouraging verses in the Bible was this petition in the Lord’s prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

I interpreted it that we should pray his Kingdom to come but not expect anything to happen for current application(?)

Today, thru my exposure to church history–reformed and post-apostolic–I see a glaring misunderstanding of this text! Jesus never tells us to pray without expectation for current application.

I am not the only person to have my spirits dampened in the great cause of revival and reform–all because this verse, and many like it, have been perverted to say that God dangles a carrot in front of us for a future beyond our current experience.

When Jesus said the “kingdom is upon you” (Matt. 12:28)—I now believe him and trust the light that he gives to scripture. If Christ isn’t the light–and any other device “is”–then interpretation/understanding is doomed! (If we didn’t need Christ to guide us in all truth–then natural/literal understanding would grasp the scriptures without Christ or Holy Spirit.) Unfortunately, the Jews proved the effectiveness of their hermaneutic when they murdered their Messiah! Why follow blind guides and their hermaneutic/interpretation?

If I can offer any encouragement for those that read this: pray with eager expectation that “the Kingdom comes” and spreads. Jesus is building his Kingdom and temple with living stones, He is faithful, he is The interpreter of his own words. He is the light to all of scripture. Why not get excited about that? Why postpone hope when the Kingdom is NOW.

It is my belief that the twisting of the text–offloading hope to another time– has caused many to lose heart in prayer and despise the days of both reform and revival. According to their interpretation, things are “supposed” to fail–because their interpretation dictates it. (This is called self-fulfilling prophecy.)

If there is one thing that I know the Lord has instilled in me: praying for his Kingdom to come is not a vain thing consigned to the end of the world. IT IS FOR NOW. Pray and take heart.