I remember growing up in my particular church tribe. As a young boy, many men would ask me about football or band or my newest girlfriend. It was normal discussion. But then those same men would get on stage to say a prayer and suddenly, their voices would become deep and profound and speaking in King James Version. It was like they thought you had to sound a certain way to really pray to God.
But God doesn’t want that. He just wants a conversation. He just wants you to talk to him like a child talks to their earthly father. He wants you to tell him all about your victories and celebrations as well as you fears and anxieties.
Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13. In his prayer, he says, “Your Kingdom Come.” We hear that and we think “spiritual” right away. But the people in Jesus’ day thought political. It’s because to them, Kingdom of God means…well, them! They, Israel, are the Kingdom of God in their minds.
Many different sects of Jews wanted to usher in a new kingdom. One without the Romans and a liberated, restored Israel. Several of them wanted Jesus as part of their group. In John 6, it says after Jesus miraculously feds the 5000, the crowd planned on forcing Jesus to be their king. Can you imagine forcing Jesus to do anything?
Instead, Jesus’ kingdom looked very different than what Israel was expecting. In Jesus’ kingdom, he came to be servant of all. In his kingdom, the first will be last and the last will be first. It’s where the greatest will be servant and slave of all.
Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount well. In Matthew 5:3 he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for their’s is the Kingdom of Heaven.” See, God’s Kingdom has a foundation built on love and humility. If we are kingdom people that means we are to love, to serve and to live humbly with those around us.
And Jesus’ kingdom comes no matter the chaos around us. No matter if there’s a pandemic, a lull in the economy or political unrest. Jesus is the one who brings kingdom, not anything in this world. When everyone else says “power”, Jesus says, “love and serve others.”
So when you pray “kingdom”, know that means you start loving your enemies. You pray for people who bully you. You bless those who make your life difficult. You aren’t motivated selfishly but rather selflessly. So pray it up but know Jesus’ kingdom looks very different than this world’s expectations. Blessings on the journey.