We have mused over the beginning of this Model Prayer. We have seen that Father shows us to whom we pray, the word our refers with whom we pray - God's family of faith. Why do we pray was answered by one word - Worship. Now we consider that the church is to be "heavenly minded" not earthly bound. You see, God designed that His family members were to understand that they are a "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, HCSB). Today, often the church is converting to the world's ways instead of converting the world to God. So, we come to - "Your kingdom come." Matthew 6:10a.
Jesus was born a King (Matthew 2:2) and He was crucified as a King (Matthew 27:37). But as He told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” .... As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” (John 18:36, HCSB). P.P. Bliss charges us in his hymn Hallelujah, What a Savior!
“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
One of these days, Jesus will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we pray the words, "Your kingdom come," we should be giving our complete devotion and dedication of our entire being to Jesus as we anticipate His return. when we say this, we need to take stock of our lives and consider if we would really be happy if Jesus came back today. Someone has written that the secret of happiness is having someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. We have that in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Someone to love means we worship Him, something to do means we work and witness, and the something to look forward to means we are waiting, watching, and eagerly anticipate His return. We may look upon the things here on earth, "but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20, HCSB). Harriet Buell gives us some understanding in A Child of the King.
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain:
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.
My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His, when He comes by and by.
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
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