Healing Rays of Righteousness

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10).

The word “hallow” means to regard as sacred or holy, to set apart or make different, that is, make different in the sense of being better or special.

And so, to pray “Hallowed be your name” is not offering praise to “Our Father in heaven,” but rather it is asking him to act in revealing himself as holy, supreme, sovereign and high above all other powers and authorities.

We are saying, “Exalt yourself. Magnify and glorify yourself in my life and in our world, so that your name will be revered, glorified, and praised, ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’”

Jesus taught that God’s kingdom is where God rules as the only and supreme King, and his will is done. Jesus also taught that our greatest desire and priority should always be for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. It is where his righteousness, peace and joy prevail.

This is the reality we desire and express in praying “your kingdom come, … on earth as it is in heaven.” It is to pray for God’s rule and transforming power to come, a power that sets people free to do his will, that overcomes the kingdoms of this world, and that completely defeats sin, Satan and death.

It is also to pray for the time to come when Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of the universe, is obeyed fully by all, including me and you, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Max Lucado has written – “When you say, “Thy kingdom come” you are inviting the Messiah himself to walk into your world. “Come, my King! Take your throne in our land. Be present in my heart. Be present in my office. Come into my marriage. Be Lord of my family, my fears, my doubts.” This is no feeble request; it’s a bold appeal for God to occupy every corner of your life.”

I agree and further believe that God’s primary will for all of us is that we would daily experience a life filled with his abundant joy, peace and healing goodness. I believe this is his promise to all who live in obedience to him as their Father and King. And to pray “Your will be done” is to commit myself to live in love and obedience to him as my Father and King.

The question we must ponder is whether I am willing to let God have his way in my life, or do I really want God to do things my way? How serious am I when I pray “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” or when I sing the lyrics of the old hymn; “Have thine own way, Lord, Have thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay.”

I believe we all would agree that heaven is the place where God’s intentions are perfectly fulfilled, where his name is hallowed, his rule obeyed, his will is done. And I would hope you also believe with me that God has those perfect intentions for earth as well. In teaching us this prayer, I believe Jesus wanted us to know and understand that “as in heaven, so be it on earth” is the essence of his promise and our purpose on earth.

And so, when we pray:
– that God’s name be hallowed (made holy) “on earth as it is in heaven”
– that God’s kingdom come “on earth as it is in heaven”
– that God’s will be done “on earth as it is in heaven,”
we are anticipating that life on earth as we know and experience it, is going to be changed, transformed in the light of God’s will and purposes for mankind.

I believe that to be a disciple of Jesus, is to commit myself to fully participate in God’s grand transforming, redemptive work on earth, giving witness to a “new creation” made possible by Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection.

I believe God put us here to enjoy him and his good creation, and to do his work of caring for his good creation, and to establish and enlarge his holy, awesome and glorious kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.”

We live on the earth as citizens of heaven, seeking to live in obedience to God’s rule, and giving witness by what we say and do, to the priorities of God’s kingdom, awaiting the day when we see “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” (Revelation 21:2).

And someday, someday, our prayer will be answered. God’s name will be “hallowed” on earth, and we will be able to sing with the angels and all of creation, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3).

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 4, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley