Thy Kingdom Come: The Lord's Prayer IV

Thy kingdom come!"

The reason many people would prefer not to pray, "Thy kingdom come," is that in their heart of hearts they really would prefer to pray, "My kingdom come." In other words, "Lord, make me king of my universe. Let me do things the way I want to do them. Don't let me have to listen to what other people want or what You want. Let me tell other people what to do and how to do it. Let me have my own way. " But the true Christian recognizes that the true center of the universe is not self but rather God.

The petition -- "Thy kingdom come"-- sprang very naturally from the lips of Jesus because His whole life was focused on bringing about the kingdom of His Father on earth. It's the cry in the heart of all of Jesus' followers as they begin to realize that the only way this world can be transformed is through the transfer of their loyalties from themselves and from the values established by the prince of this world to the King of heaven who through His teachings and life introduced and embodied new values and who through sacrifice and suffering transformed the world order.

In the kingdom of the heavenly Father which Jesus has reinstituted, all values are reversed. The greatest is the smallest, the strongest is the weakest, and the first is the last. The poor are more blessed than the rich. The humble are more blessed than the proud. The hungry and thirsty are more blessed that those who are full. In the kingdom of the Father, those who are in charge do not lord it over those that they rule. Rather they become the servants of all.

So when we pray, "Thy kingdom come," we are also praying, "Lord, make me the slave of all. Give me a servant's heart like Yours. Let me focus not on what I want but on what You want and on what my brothers and sisters want. Help me to be like You -- may the motivation of my life be not to to be served but to serve." Amen.