Nougat 12

We continue our reflection on what we mean by ‘Thy kingdom come’ in 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

The obedience factor

As sovereign, God receives total loyalty from us who invited God to take control. And that ‘oath of loyalty’ is like Joshua’s declaration, ‘… as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.’ (see Joshua 24:15). We note that his family was either in agreement or compliance with Joshua’s dictum as he spoke for them all. That also undergirds the depth of the decision – it’s a whole family affair.

It’s worth noting that in Joshua 20, the word ‘serve’ occurs four times. And in each instance the same root is used which suggests enslavement or worship. Though we might not enjoy the reference to the act of enslavement, we understand it loosely to be a system of submission to a powerful person. In a working slave system the enslaved simply follows the master’s command without question. Our claim to obedience ought to be along those lines, although we do have freedom of thought.

What is even more noteworthy is our ‘promise’ or rather desire that everyone on earth will obey God on earth. That’s an ambitious request or promise; for it is a desire to ‘return to Eden’. (Did I just hear someone exclaim in surprise, or was that me?) Yes, it is so. For we can recall what happened in Genesis 3 – there are many theories on what the first couple’s motives were; but ultimately they lost access to Eden because of their disobedience to God, their sovereign Creator. Obedience is thus a return.

Further, this desire is not for the hereafter but for now. While we are still on earth. So we are calling forth a lifestyle of transformation. In ourselves and in others – even the people we’d rather not ‘see’. As a matter of fact, that is part of the obedience factor. Loving those we’d rather ignore and helping them experience God so that they too will decide to be obedient to God. (Yaas it’s like that.)

Lord help us keep this promise, for it is only by our obedience that Your kingdom is established on earth in the here and now. Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. In Jesus name amen.

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May all we seek be found in Christ