I learned the King James version of The Lord’s Prayer when I was a kid. Many churches still recite the King James version, even though we use a more modern translation for other Bible verses. The prayer is so familiar that we may recite it by rote, not pausing to let the words sink in.
The prayer that the Lord taught us to pray is the topic of a Lenten sermon series at my church. We are studying the prayer phrase by phrase, but with a less confusing translation.
Our Father who art… Perhaps because my first Bible was a King James, I didn’t realize how confusing the old English verbs are. God is an artist, but no, he is not up in the clouds painting.
…in heaven. We think of heaven as a place far away and in the future. It’s the place we go when we die, right?
Last week, Pastor Bob said that the real word is heavens not heaven. Our Father is in the heavens, in the air around us, as close as our next breath. He is everywhere.
In 2 Corinthians, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul spoke about being caught up to the third heaven. The first heaven is the created world. The second heaven is the spiritual realm. The third heaven is God’s home.
May your kingdom come
Today, my pastor asked, “What was the gospel that Jesus preached?” I was thinking to myself, the Good News of Salvation. That wasn’t the answer he was looking for. Jesus preached that the kingdom of God is near!
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17
It’s hard to grasp what Jesus meant about the kingdom of God. When we hear the word kingdom; we may imagine a castle 🏰 or the range of a king’s rule.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
My pastor described the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven in the book of Matthew, as the range of God’s effective will. It’s where God’s will is made known and put into practice.
Our culture reinforces the notion that heaven is far away and in the future. We think of heaven as up there. Earth and hell are down here.
God’s kingdom is not some far away place. Heaven is not some far away place. Both are near.
Heaven is life lived fully with God.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Father, I long for your will to be done right here and now. Bring up there down here.
🏰 ❤️ 🏰 ❤️
The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)
Song by Matt Maher
Father, let Your Kingdom come
Father, let Your will be done
On Earth as in Heaven
Right here in my heart
Innermost Being 