Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

We are living in the ‘already but not yet’ in the tension between the resurrection and the full life to come. It feels a little like the tension between the shelter in place and the longing for having our normal life back. I’m longing for hugging my 97‑year‑old mom, going to the gym, and being able to touch things without hesitation. And to be completely transparent, l am really longing to know that we will have college football this fall!

How do we live life within this tension? In the Lord’s Prayer that we recite together even as we are scattered, it says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The invitation is for us to take our own little kingdoms (our lives and spheres of influence) and align them with the kingdom of God. We can help bring His kingdom wherever we live and wherever we are right now, even as we shelter in place!

John Ortberg paraphrases it this way, “Make up there come down here.” How do we do that? Pick up the phone and call someone who is isolated. Love the ones you are with. Send money to your hair cutter even though you can’t get your hair cut. Write an encouraging note to your neighbor. Be kind to the grocery worker restocking the shelves. 

For Reflection

• What are your little kingdoms and your spheres of influence?

• How can you bring your kingdoms under the Kingdom of God?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, guide me and help me to know how to bring a little (or a lot!) of heaven down to earth here today to my family, my work, my community and my city. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.