July 2023
Nougat 11
I’m sure we covered the Lord’s Prayer before but today’s Holy Nougat
“Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 CEV
I have never thought of it as an invitation. Yes it’s a prayer, a conversation from us to God, and yes we’re making requests and declarations, and I saw the KJV Thy kingdom come as a declaration of the ‘what is’, rather than the what we desire. And for me, it is somewhat of a paradigm shift.
An invitation suggests partnership; that I am open to being part of the establishing of God’s Kingdom. That I hold myself accountable for ensuring that God’s earthly Kingdom is a good replica of the heavenly kingdom. And of course, that has political implications to it.
In many democratic countries, individuals candidate for leadership in municipalities or the entire nation. And yes, the vote of the people – the popular vote – is the deciding factor; but everyone knows that it’s the campaigning that occurs prior to the election that helps to seal the deal, especially in ‘swing’ states or among the undecided.
Can it be that our invitation for God to come establish an earthly kingdom has such implications?
Alternatively, the unromantic reality of the European sovereign states suggest that small independent states agreed to become confederacies and/or kingdoms to protect likeminded interests from others. This may have been alliances formed for economics, filial relationships or safety. And opting to stay together was this survival. (We remember Abram joining forces with a group of kings to rescue Lot in Genesis 14, resulting in Melchizedek’s visit).
The smaller sovereign states or fiefdoms, upon accepting the alliance, committed to fighting for the establishment or the security of the kingdom, which was often tenuous. If it wasn’t a conquest, the alliance was usually mutually beneficial. The smaller fiefdom would declare loyalty to the king, often receiving food and military support from enemy kingdoms.
When we invite God to establish God’s kingdom on earth, are we prepared to defend the kingdom as though our life and/or our livelihood depends on its success?
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May all we seek be found in Christ