Bible League: Living His Word "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."— Matthew 6:10 NIV Our verse for today is a part of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. It raises some questions. Has not God's Kingdom been on earth since the beginning of the creation? In what sense, then, does the Kingdom need to come to the earth? After all, in the Old Testament the Lord God is portrayed as King. Psalm 10:16 says, "The LORD is King for ever and ever." Further, He is portrayed as the King who exercises Kingdom rule over heaven and earth. Psalm 103:19 says, "The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." And Psalm 145:13 says, "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations." So, again, the question needs to be asked: If the Lord God is the King who exercises Kingdom rule over all things, then why does His Kingdom need to come on earth as it is in heaven? Although God sovereignly rules and reigns over all things, the fall of humankind into sin allowed Satan to establish a renegade regime within the earthly portion of God's Kingdom. Indeed, so much has Satan gained control in the earth that Jesus could refer to him as "the prince of this world" (John 14:30). The Kingdom of God needs to come, therefore, in order to take back those parts of the earth that were taken over by Satan. The process of taking back has been going on since the days of Jesus. As our verse for today implies, our prayers play a role in the process. Indeed, every time someone prays for anything, they are praying that God's Kingdom would take back things that have been perverted, twisted, and wrecked by Satan's wicked regime. That's why our prayers lead to physical healings, freedom from demonic power, relationships healed, poverty overcome, divine guidance, and a host of other redemptive and transformative things. In effect, our prayers are acts of war against Satan's regime. They lead to the Kingdom and the will of God coming to the earth in greater fullness. Today, then, go to war! Do as much damage to Satan's renegade regime as you can. Pray! Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 32, 33 Ezekiel 32 -- Lament over Pharaoh and Egypt NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 33 -- Ezekiel the Watchman; News of Jerusalem's Capture NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Peter 1 1 Peter 1 -- Peter Praises God for His Manifold Grace; Be Holy, for I Am Holy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.Insight Why is it so tempting to “love pleasure rather than God”? Pleasure is something we can control; God cannot be controlled. Most pleasures can be obtained easily; love for God requires effort and sometimes sacrifice. Pleasure benefits us now; the benefits of loving God are often in the future. Pleasure has a narcotic effect; it takes our minds off ourselves and our problems. Love for God reminds us of our needs and our responsiblities. Pleasure cooperates with pride. It makes us feel good when we look good in the eyes of others. Challenge To love God we must lay aside our pride and our accomplishments. Have you chosen to love pleasure, or to love God? How do you know? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Proverbs 24:33, 34 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough idleness. A little folding of the hands to sleep is all they crave, and they have a crowd of reasons to show that this indulgence is a very proper one. Yet by these littles the day ebbs out, and the time for labor is all gone, and the field is grown over with thorns. It is by little procrastinations that men ruin their souls. They have no intention to delay for years--a few months will bring the more convenient season--to-morrow if you will, they will attend to serious things; but the present hour is so occupied and altogether so unsuitable, that they beg to be excused. Like sands from an hour-glass, time passes, life is wasted by driblets, and seasons of grace lost by little slumbers. Oh, to be wise, to catch the flying hour, to use the moments on the wing! May the Lord teach us this sacred wisdom, for otherwise a poverty of the worst sort awaits us, eternal poverty which shall want even a drop of water, and beg for it in vain. Like a traveller steadily pursuing his journey, poverty overtakes the slothful, and ruin overthrows the undecided: each hour brings the dreaded pursuer nearer; he pauses not by the way, for he is on his master's business and must not tarry. As an armed man enters with authority and power, so shall want come to the idle, and death to the impenitent, and there will be no escape. O that men were wise be-times, and would seek diligently unto the Lord Jesus, or ere the solemn day shall dawn when it will be too late to plough and to sow, too late to repent and believe. In harvest, it is vain to lament that the seed time was neglected. As yet, faith and holy decision are timely. May we obtain them this night. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Kings 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"Job 23:10 "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Psalm 139:1-3,7,9,10 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. • You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. • You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. • Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? • If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, • Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Psalm 37:24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity. Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Psalm 103:13,14 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. • For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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