Jesus instructed His disciples, and us, to pray "Your kingdom come". Why? Because this is God's sovereign will and His kingdom will be fully recognized and acknowledged by all of His creation one day. So, those of us who are His must not wait until all creation acknowledges this, but must instead live with an ever-conscious mind toward this end, long to see its appearing, labor toward it and pray in accordance with it.
The following is April 2nd's evening devotional entry from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening". I trust that you will be both challenged and encouraged by these words:
"He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." - Isaiah 53:10
Plead for the speedy fulfilment of this promise, all ye who love the Lord. It is easy work to pray when we are grounded and bottomed, as to our desires, upon God's own promise.
How can he that gave the word refuse to keep it? Immutable veracity cannot demean itself by a lie, and eternal faithfulness cannot degrade itself by neglect. God must bless his Son, his covenant binds him to it. That which the Spirit prompts us to ask for Jesus, is that which God decrees to give him.
Whenever you are praying for the kingdom of Christ, let your eyes behold the dawning of the blessed day which draweth near, when the Crucified shall receive his coronation in the place where men rejected him. Courage, you that prayerfully work and toil for Christ with success of the very smallest kind, it shall not be so always; better times are before you. Your eyes cannot see the blissful future: borrow the telescope of faith; wipe the misty breath of your doubts from the glass; look through it and behold the coming glory.
Reader, let us ask, do you make this your constant prayer? Remember that the same Christ who tells us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread," had first given us this petition, "Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to Christ himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, "Lord, extend the kingdom of thy dear Son."
Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by laboring to promote the Lord's glory.
Thanks for the good word, Charles. To that I say, "Amen"!
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