To Have the Kingdom

If something is at hand, it is nearby. We should be able to reach out and grasp it with our fingers. Jesus' directions to His disciples were, And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 10:7 NKJV)

If the kingdom of heaven is truly at hand, it has to be more than eternal life in paradise. It must exist not only in the future, but also in the present. The people of Palestine were probably more interested in a physical kingdom apart from the Roman Empire than in an elusive concept they could not understand. Perhaps some even thought He was talking about a physical kingdom, but such a possibility was hardly something at hand.

So what is this elusive but nearby kingdom? As we move deeper into the story, we learn Jesus is the King of heaven. We learn our ability to walk with Him determines our ability to walk in the present-day, nearby, spiritual kingdom of heaven. He said, Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before him, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (v. 32)

Most of us have trouble reaching out to receive the kingdom of heaven, even when we do walk with Jesus. The concept is alien to our mindsets—we are too focused on the physical realities to think about spiritual realities.

But there are great promises for those who move in God's kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, Freely you have received, freely give. (v. 8b) He always has more for His children and He always rules with His kingdom laws of love and grace.

Originally published July 26, 1991.

Prayers from the Bible

The Bible contains many prayers. There are the prayers of Jesus, including the familiar Lord’s Prayer. There are prayers or songs of praise and worship. There are prayers that changed the course of history. There are prayers for insight and wisdom.

Jesus said the Lord’s Prayer is a pattern. It contains all types of prayer—praise, petition, etc. We cannot go wrong when we pray the Lord's Prayer—as long as it does not become vain repetition. We are not truly talking to God unless we pray from the heart.

God gave us additional prayers as well. Some are in Paul's letters. They encourage us to pray for specific needs, and they also provide patterns that help us when we pray.

One example of a prayer from Paul's letters is found in Ephesians. It reads, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation . . . your understanding . . . being enlightened’ that you may know what is the hope of His calling. . . . (Eph. 1:17,18 NKJV)

Originally published April 24, 1987.
Picture: Commercial display, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Rise! Let Us Go!

Jesus spent much time talking with God the Father. Although many of His prayers are recorded, we often fail to understand their importance. He was God, but He needed to receive strength and direction through prayer because He was also human, just as we are human.

Insight into the interaction between Jesus and God the Father is especially evident in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Passover meal. Jesus was distressed, and He recoiled at the cross. "Abba, Father," he said. . . . Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will. . . ." (Mk. 14:36a,c, NIV)

Although He was submitted to the Father, Jesus would have liked another plan of salvation.

He withdrew from the disciples three times that evening as He prayed, coming to terms with God's Will. Finally He said, "The hour has come, Look, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." (v. 41b)

No longer seeking another plan, He was ready for His destiny. "Rise!" He said. "Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" (v. 42)

Originally published June 22, 1990.
Picture: Roadside thistle, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

To the One who Hears and Answers

We’ve all heard the phrase, All we can do is pray. When we say that, it seems we view prayer as something of little significance, a last resort. We try it when other avenues are exhausted.

The Bible tells us prayer is a vital force. It says good things happen when people turn to God in prayer. It tells us that even if our hearts are wrong, full of selfish demands, He can change us when we come into His presence. God can humble us so we’ll actually become ready to receive His answer to prayer!

The psalmist cried, O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come . . . You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth. . . . (Ps. 65: 2,5 NKV)

During times when important national decisions are at stake, we look to God. Only He knows what lies ahead and only He can truly judge the heartbeat and the hearts of the people.

It’s time to pray—to the One who hears and answers.

Originally published November 4, 1988.

Picture: Flower in Hawaii, 2004. Photo by Patty.