In Matthew 6:9ff Jesus teaches us how to pray.
I find that what he teaches us challenges some basic, and often unspoken, presuppositions of the modern Christian.
The contemporary believer believes that God is concerned about spiritual things primarily; things like prayer, going to church, looking forward to heaven.
Jesus does start with a spiritual thing when he teaches us to pray. “Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” He starts with worship. He starts with looking to the eternal God who is over everything.
But then, before going into seeking forgiveness, reconciling with your neighbor, seeking provision, etc. Jesus drops a bomb on us: “Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
When was the last time you prayed that in your “quiet” time?
Do you even know what the implications of such a prayer are?
God would not tell us to pray something unless it is something that He Wants, Intends, and Can Do!
So… God wants His Kingdom to Come on earth in the same way that the Kingdom is in heaven!
How goes the Kingdom in Heaven? Completely! Perfectly! In Every Area!
So God is not only concerned with getting us into Heaven. He is interested in His Kingdom manifesting in the earth right now. Obviously, that starts with individuals being eternally reconciled to God; but it goes way beyond that. It involves things to be done on earth as they are done in Heaven. It involves God’s ways salting, lighting, and yeasting this current world!
I have spent most of my life concerned about eternity. I don’t intend to give up that priority. I am, however, becoming increasingly aware that God is doing something now as well.