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
Imagine
that you have never driven a car. You are not aware of all the features
of a car. Up to this point, you have had to walk everywhere you go. All
you are told is that you are about to receive something that will get
you anywhere you need to go. The day arrives and you are given a brand
new car. You get in and drive the car. However, the emergency brake is
on, preventing you from going faster than 20 miles per hour. No one
tells you that you should unlock the brake. Regardless, you are excited
because you no longer have to walk to your destination. You are not told
that the car has lights, which would allow you to drive at night.
Neither are you told about the many other wonderful features of the car.
You just know you have a new car that will get you anywhere you want to
go at 20 miles per hour. For the rest of your life, you drive this
incredible car during the daytime only at 20 miles per hour.
Why
would Jesus pray that things in earth would be like they are in Heaven
if it were not possible? When Jesus came to earth, He came in order to
penetrate the very kingdom of darkness with light. He came to bring
healing to sickness, replace sadness with joy, and fill meaninglessness
with purpose. He came to change things for the better for a world that
had no hope outside of God.
Using the illustration above, Jesus
did not come to merely give us a ticket to Heaven (a car that you drive
only in the daytime at 20 miles per hour). He came to bring us much
more-the Kingdom of God on earth. Nowhere in the Bible will you find the
term, gospel of salvation. The Church does not exist for Heaven, but
for earth. If it existed only for Heaven, then each of us would
immediately be taken to Heaven. There would be no reason for us to
remain on earth. So why has God allowed us to receive this new birth and
remain on earth? It is so that we might bring the Kingdom of God into
our world-our families, our workplace, and our communities.
God
wants you to bring the Kingdom of God into the territory He has given
you so that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Your
domain is your workplace, family, and community. Ask God to show you how
He wants to penetrate the darkness of your domain with His light. Then
you will see and experience all the features of this gift that has been
given to you.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
12-22-2012
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