I’m Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32)
“For Thine is the kingdom.”
That’s what it says near the end of The Lord’s Prayer.
I pray through The Lord’s Prayer most days and when I come to this part I expound on it.
“Lord, the kingdom is Yours. Everything belongs to You, and I belong to You in your kingdom.”
A kingdom implies a king, and Revelation 19:16 says that Jesus is the King of Kings.
Psalm 47 says God is the King of all the earth. He reigns over the nations and sits on His holy throne.
Isaiah said, “My eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”
And what was Isaiah’s response when He saw the King? It was great humility and repentance. He said, “Woe is me, for I am undone!”
Isaiah also responded with a great desire to serve the King. In Isaiah 6:8 he said, “Here am I! Send me.”
This is a proper response to a king, an offer to serve. So that’s what I do when I come to “for Thine is the kingdom.” I say, “Lord, You are the king. I am your servant. I am here to serve as You wish. I’m at your beck and call. I want to do what is my duty to do.”
So I am a servant of the King, but I am also a soldier of the King.
Second Timothy 2:3-4 says, “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with civilian affairs, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
I am a soldier of the King. When I roll out of bed each morning I take a knee, point to heaven and say, “Reporting for duty, Sir.”
One of the things I like about being a soldier is that I don’t have to come up with my own commands. A soldier doesn’t wake up and say, “What should I do for the army today?” No. He is a soldier under command. He does what he is told. A soldier also doesn’t have to worry about his provisions, his gear, his lodging, his health care, his training. That’s all provided as long as he is a soldier under command.
So when I pray, “for Thine is the kingdom,” I’m praying, “Lord, I am Your servant and I am Your soldier.”
But there’s more. I’m not just a servant and I’m not just a soldier. As a Christian I am also a son! I am a CHILD of the King!
Galatians 4 says that Jesus came to redeem us so that we can be adopted as sons. We become sons and daughters of the King! It says we become heirs of the King through Christ.
First John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
God is the King, and as believers we are the King’s Kids!
So when I pray, “for Thine is the kingdom” at the end of the Lord’s prayer, I’m saying, “Lord, You are the King. It’s Your kingdom, and I am Your servant. I want to do all that is my duty to do. And I am a soldier under command. And I am a son, so happy to be a child of the King, and that You love me and provide for me and lead me, not just as a servant and not just as a soldier, but also as a son. Thank You, Father.”
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
May God bless you today.
I’m Doug Apple.
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