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Daily Devotion: Matthew 6:9-13 (8)

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Matthew 6:9-13     "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  (11)  Give us this day our daily bread.  (12)  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (13)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  Are we "glory seekers"?  Do we revel in honor? How does it make us feel when someone else gives us a high compliment? Do we enjoy it when others observe us at our best? Do we like to be in charge of situations, circumstances, or maybe even think that we are in charge of our own lives? How do these questions make us feel? If I am honest with myself, there is a part of me that rises up in self defence even when I have to ask these questions of myself. Maybe I am being too brutally honest here. But in order to fully comprehend and appreciate this last sentence of the model prayer, I must address each of these things.

We prayed in verse 10, "Thy kingdom come." and now again in verse 13, "Thine is the kingdom..." What is the kingdom?  We wrote of it when we addressed verse 10, but if we are going to confess that the kingdom belongs unto our Heavenly Father, then we must understand what we are talking about. Paul tells us the kingdom of God (Kingdom of heaven) is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." This kingdom is not a visible one.  Jesus said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world..." (John 18:36) This kingdom is of an heavenly nature and indeed belongs unto the Lord. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and He is "KING of kings and LORD of lords." The kingdom is His and He is King over it. That is, He reigns and rules among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. He is KING and we, as blood-bought children of God, are citizens of this heavenly kingdom. The model prayer concludes with us affirming that all power and glory belongs unto the Lord and when we confess that in righteousness, there is peace and joy to be experienced in our hearts and minds.  I conclude this study of the model prayer by saying this: If I do not believe that He is King of all, then there is no need for me even to speak the words of this prayer. But Praise Be To God, He has the rule and oversight of all. There is none greater or mightier or holier or wiser or more loving than our Heavenly Father!  Thank you, Lord! He hears and answers our prayers.

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