The Lord's Prayer: Praying for the Kingdom

Ultimate Allegiance: The Subversive Nature of the Lord's PrayerThe second excerpt from my book Ultimate Allegiance: The Subversive Nature of the Lord's Prayer (Energion Publications, 2010), has appeared at EthicsDaily.com.  I invite you to check out the excerpt -- read the complete piece at EthicsDaily, and then return to offer your thoughts.   Oh, and I won't be disappointed if you decide to buy a copy!

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The Lord's Prayer: Praying for the Kingdom
By: Bob Cornwall

Posted: Monday, January 10, 2011 5:38 am


The Lord's Prayer, as Matthew presents it, asks that God's kingdom would come, as God's will is done on earth as it is done in heaven. What happens on earth, Jesus suggests, mirrors what is happening in the heavens.

It would seem that as we make this prayer to God, we are recognizing that with the incarnation, the kingdom of God has taken root in this world. As Jesus puts it, the kingdom is in our midst.

If we believe that the kingdom of God is more than getting into the next life, so that the kingdom has "this world" implications, then what is it that we're requesting of God? What is the nature of this kingdom that we're asking God to reveal in our midst?

As we consider these questions, it's important to remember that the kingdom isn't a minor focus. It is instead the focus of Jesus' ministry. Everything he did, whether he was teaching or healing, revealed to the world the nature of God's reign. Therefore, it shouldn't surprise us that this petition stands at the very heart of this prayer.  (To continue reading click here. 

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For more information about the book, or to purchase a copy, click here to go to the publisher's catalog page.   

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