Thy Kingdom Come by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1905

Thy Kingdom Come

By L. A. S.

In the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples, the foremost petition is, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” As the face of Daniel and the faces of God’s servants of old were turned toward Jerusalem when they prayed to the God of Israel, so the faces of God’s people to-day, as they bow before him, are to be turned toward the New Jerusalem, which is to be when the kingdoms of this earth shall have given place to the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. With our minds turned toward this coming kingdom, we shall find inspiration for petitions that will be acceptable before God.

Very appropriate is it that Christ’s disciples of this day should pray “after this manner.” During the week of prayer they should not forget the model prayer which Christ set forth in answer to his disciples’ request. The coming kingdom of Christ is now the all-important theme. The prophecies have been fulfilled; no long future remains for the church militant. This present evil world has already gone beyond its allotted time. The world’s greatest need now is that it should come to its end. The end will come as soon as the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom shall have been fully given.

God’s people are now engaged in the work of bringing the answer to the petition, “Thy kingdom come.” The week of prayer should be not merely a time of petitions for the coming of Christ’s kingdom, but of preparation on the part of God’s people to bring the answer to this petition. If they are earnest in desiring the coming of his kingdom, they will be earnest in seeking such a fitting up as will enable them to go forth and hasten that event. That this event may be hastened, and that the only cause of delay is not in heaven, but here on the earth, in the church of Christ, should be uppermost in the minds of Christ’s disciples during this prayer season. L. A. S.