Then this past Lord's Day we talked about what we mean when we say, "Thy will be done on earth as it is (or ‘as it is being done') in heaven." This is an affirmation that we are absolutely committed to doing God's will in our own life first and foremost. We cannot pray this with any real integrity while holding back a part of our life from the Lordship of Christ. If we are asking that God's will be done everywhere on earth except in one's own life would be utter hypocrisy. Even if the un-surrendered area is considered "small" it is still a defiant choice which is unbecoming to one who professes to follow Jesus.

In the life of Jesus we read in Hebrews 10:5, " Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; ⁶in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. ⁷Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" Jesus overtly and specifically came to do the will of the Father and so must we. Half obedience is still disobedience. You know that from raising children. Half a "yes" is ultimately a "no." This is part of the reason why Jesus tells us, "If you love me, keep my commandments."

But here is what you may not know. Many of us erroneously believe that the "fear of the Lord" is primarily an emotional response such as the Israelites experienced before the giving of the law on Mt. Horeb. It's true that we ought to have a holy respect for our God and fear to rebel against Him but that's not the whole picture.

Actually, "To ‘fear' him means to submit to his revealed will, whether voiced by Moses or Solomon, because one trusts him to keep his promises of life for the faithful and his threats of death for the unfaithful."[1] Thus, to truly "fear" the Lord means that we are actively pursuing the principles and precepts of His Word and therefore His will for our life. Anything less is to disdain our God at the point of our rebellion and disobedience. This is why the book of Proverbs begins with a profound announcement that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning (or foundation) of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7

Therefore, the fear of the Lord is at the root of asking God that His, "... kingdom come", and that His "...will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Father, make it so in my life and in the lives of my fellow believers for the glory of Christ. Amen!