Daily Devotions
Matthew
"Your Kingdom Come"
Text: Matthew 6 : 1 - 18
What an awesome thought it is to think of God as King! Surely that must affect the way we pray to Him!
What should loyal subjects be concerned about when they stand in the Presence of the Great King of glory? Surely, they must desire to see His kingdom established! Every faithful subject should be devoted to the task of furthering the kingdom of God!
THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF MAN
One of the most striking texts in the Scriptures is the prophetic vision that God revealed to Daniel. With the special vision God gave to him, there also came enlightenment.
“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and
glory and a kingdom.
That all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:13-14
The Kingdom of the Son of Man in principle is already established. However, in practical terms, that prophecy had not been fulfilled!
Was Jesus conscious of God’s kingdom plans? Most assuredly! There was a kingdom that must be established. The way to establishing that Kingdom was not by way of conquest. The chosen way was one of prayer. All who understand and appreciate the doctrine of the kingdom of the Son of Man must surely cry out to the Father, “Your kingdom come”. This cry to the Lord must come forth as an urgent prayer from the hearts of all loyal subjects!
PRAYING FOR UNDERSTANDING OF KINGDOM MATTERS
Do you find yourself praying “Your kingdom come” often? Perhaps not! Before we can pray for the Lord’s Kingdom to come in a meaningful way, we must have a deeper comprehension of kingdom matters.
Daniel was privileged indeed. Though he was given a vision of the future kingdom of the Son of Man, he never took for granted that he had full comprehension of all kingdom matters. Daniel was a statesman in the reigns of the Babylonian and Persian kings! He was a very high ranking government official. He would know that with the idea of the Kingdom, many details must be carefully thought through.
Thus he found himself seeking further comprehension of the vision that God gave to him. Daniel spared no effort to seek God in prayer for a deeper comprehension of the vision(s) given to him. The Book of Daniel records at least two specific attempts by Daniel to seek in prayer further wisdom to comprehend kingdom matters.
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God
to make request by prayer and supplications,
with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. And I
prayed to the Lord…”
Daniel 9:3-4a
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning
three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food,
no meat or wine came into my mouth,
nor did I anoint myself at all, till
three whole weeks were fulfilled.”
Daniel 10:2-3
Daniel has given us a tremendous example of what it means to pray for wisdom and comprehension of kingdom matters. Let us not take anything for granted. Let us be challenged to pray for wisdom to comprehend the concept behind the words, “Your kingdom come”.
SPIRITUAL RESISTANCE
It must have puzzled Daniel as to why he needed to fast and pray as long as he did, to comprehend kingdom matters better. At the end of the three weeks, the reason was explained to him. An angel of the Lord was sent to Daniel to teach him deep spiritual truths.
“O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand
the words that I speak to you, and stand
upright, for I have now been sent to you…Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day
that you set your heart to understand,
and to humble yourself before your God,
your words were heard; and I have come
because of your words. But the prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one
days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief
princes, came to help me…”
Daniel 10:11a-13
This text reveals an important truth! There is such a thing as “spiritual resistance”. This does not mean that we cannot experience victory, but that we must persevere in prayer if we desire to have a deeper comprehension of kingdom matters. The phrase, “Your kingdom come” is obviously not a glib phrase to be uttered in recitation. We are challenged to pray at ever deepening levels!