123. Q. What does the second request mean? A. "Your kingdom come" means, Rule us by Your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to You. Keep Your church strong, and add to it. Destroy the devil's work; destroy every force which revolts against You and every conspiracy against Your Word. Do this until Your kingdom is so complete and perfect that in it You are in all.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
DeYoung: "The kingdom is not about excellence in behavior. It's about our willing submission to God and living a life of love that befits those who belong to such a lovely King."
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to unto us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us...
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.
(Martin Luther)
His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o'er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
He all His foes shall quell,
Shall all our sins destroy;
Our songs of praise shall swell
With everlasting joy.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
(Charles Wesley)
122. Q. What does the first request mean? A. "Hallowed be Your name" means, Help us to really know You, to bless, worship, and praise You for all Your works and for all that shines forth from them: Your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means, help us to direct all our living - what we think, say, and do - so that Your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
DeYoung: "Jesus teaches us that the first thing we ought to pray for, before we ask for anything else, is that God would be glorified and set apart as holy... Jesus would have us understand that the point of prayer is God's glory... 'Our Father in heaven, the concern nearest to my heart and the one that shapes all other requests is that Your name would be regarded as holy, that Your fame would be heralded in the earth, that You would be honored among the nations, that Your glory would be magnified for all to see. O Lord, be pleased to cause men everywhere to take pleasure in You, that You might be praised now and forever."
When we pray "Hallowed be Thy name," we are not praying for God's name to become "sanctified" or "made holy," for holiness is already one of God's perfections. Rather, we are asking for the Lord to make the greatness of His name displayed and magnified even further. "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised" (Ps. 113:3).
Am I in any way hindering the Lord’s name from being magnified and praised? I should consistently be examining my life for areas that that might be bringing wrong honor and glory to myself instead of the name of the Lord.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115:1)
120. Q. Why did Christ command us to call God "our Father"? A. At the very beginning of our prayer Christ wants to kindle in us what is basic to our prayer - the childlike awe and trust that God through Christ has become our Father. Our fathers do not refuse us the things of this life; God our Father will even less refuse to give us what we ask in faith.
121. Q. Why the words "in heaven"? A. Those words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty as something earthly and to expect everything for body and soul from His almighty power.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
God Himself has revealed the name of "Father" as one by which we can call Him. As His children we can trust Him to know what is best for us. A father knows what his child needs much better than the child does. When I find myself begging God for something, I have to remind myself that He has my good in view even when it feels like He is holding back something I desperately want. Our omniscient, omnipotent Heavenly Father delights to hear and answer our prayers according to His will!
116. Q. Why do Christians need to pray? A. Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us. And also because God gives His grace and Holy Spirit only to those who pray continually and groan inwardly asking God for these gifts and thanking Him for them.
117. Q. How does God want us to pray so that He will listen to us? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed Himself in His Word, asking for everything He has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in His majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord. This is what He promised us in His Word.
118. Q. What did God command us to pray for? A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically, as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord Himself taught us.
119. Q. What is the prayer? A. Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
I'm so thankful for the privilege of coming to the throne of grace, bringing my petitions large and small to the great King of kings, through Christ the perfect Mediator.
Confession: I'm somewhat of a Duggar fan.
Last year I started in on a few episodes of "17 Kids & Counting" (now, "19 Kids") on Netflix. As a young girl with two little brothers, I had always secretly dreamed of being a part of a large family, and would often make-believe I had a bunch of sisters. And then I imagined that I'd have many children of my own. Not so sure these days if that will ever be... So in a sense I'm living vicariously through observing the Duggar family from afar.
The most recent news is that newlyweds Jessa and Ben saved their first kiss for their wedding day (no surprise there...), but it took place in private after the ceremony rather than at the altar. I think there's something very sweet about that, and I would actually consider taking a similar approach if my future bridegroom agreed.
113. Q. What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment? A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God's commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right.
114. Q. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly? A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments.
115. Q. No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly: why then does God want them preached so pointedly? A. First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness. Second, so that, while praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.
My reflections on the reading from the book...
Coveting, the issue covered in the 10th Commandment, is essentially idolatry. DeYoung distinguishes coveteousness from desire: "One of two things must be present for a lawful desire to become coveting. First, we covet when we desire what belongs to someone else... Or we can covet when our desire leads to or is an expression of discontentment." DeYoung goes on to state, "Contentment and covetousness are opposites." I confess I struggle a lot with contentment. My Wednesday morning breakfast friends and I have just started reading Jeremiah Burrough's classic book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, and it is already proving to be a convicting read. No, I will never achieve perfection in this earthly life, but God wants my heart united to fear His name. May I give Him my whole heart and refuse to hold back in any area!
