Kingdom Come: Heaven in Us and Through Us

Scripture:

Matthew 6:10

10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (NIV)

Devotional Reflection:

After we have positioned ourselves in humility, our highest desire is for His kingdom to come here on earth. Heaven is a kingdom with a King who has set the laws and established the culture. We know Heaven is not a place of pain, sorrow, or tears. There is no stress, worry, or anxiety—no fear, no doubt, no sadness, no anger, no jealousy, no uncertainty, no crime, no bills, and no marriage, since we will be with our Heavenly Husband, Jesus Christ. Earth cannot be exactly as Heaven, but our souls can be.

We are called to help people who suffer in ways that do not exist in Heaven—the least of these. We are to help the homeless, feed the hungry, and visit those in prison. At the same time, Jesus said we will always have the poor with us. We know only a few will take the narrow path of Christ, so selfishness will continue on Earth and all that it leads to. So, we are praying that Earth move nearer and nearer to the kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again. So our prayers are not simply for a social movement toward the societal utopia that Heaven will be. We also pray for the salvation of souls. The more people turn to Christ and mature in their character, as refined by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, Heaven will reign in their hearts. Their behavior will influence those around them to move in this direction as well.

We pray the Lord help us to actively help the helpless, to serve the forgotten, and love the unlovable. We pray for the salvation of souls. We pray that we are formed in our spirit to let the Heaven within our hearts move in us so that we continually introduce those in our circle of influence to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Prayer

Lord, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in us and through us. Form our hearts so that they reflect Heaven, and shape our lives to serve those in need with compassion and truth. Draw people to Yourself, bring salvation to many, and let Your Spirit refine us so that Your kingdom is seen in how we live, love, and lead others to You. Amen.