Your Kingdom Come

[Devotional based on the sermon: The Prayer Of Our Lord]

What is a kingdom without a king?

The Israelites asked this question a long time ago (Samuel 8). The elders of the kingdom of Israel approached the prophet Samuel, who was leading them at the time. They envied the governmental structures popular during that time. So they asked Samuel to appoint a king over them, saying, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel then went to God about this request. God answered, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”

God, the creator of the whole universe, was rejected by humankind (Genesis 3). Even His chosen people rejected Him after He graciously freed them from slavery to Egypt and gave them a land to live in. God’s kingship was, and is, spurned.

God’s kingship was also spurned at the cross (John 19:14-16). When Jesus was put on trial, the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

On the cross, a sign was mockingly put over Jesus’ dying body: “The King of the Jews.”

The great irony is that Jesus really was the King of the Jews. And not only the king of the Jews, but our King as well. 1 Timothy 6:15 says that Jesus is “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” His kingdom is a messianic kingdom. A kingdom of believers that want to glorify God. That’s why we pray, “your kingdom come.”

1. How is God a king in your life? Do you live as though God is truly your king? Where do your loyalties lie?

2. Consider your answer and pray.