July 27 - Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done...

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We pray that God’s kingdom would come to us – that God would rule in our lives so that we would do His will. In today’s gospel Jesus tells five parables about the kingdom that picture aspects of the kingdom coming in our lives.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… It’s a tiny little seed, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs… Matthew 13:31,32

A contrast between a small beginning and a great result. A seed that’s less than a tenth of an inch grows to a shrub 15 feet high. Our efforts to live under the rule of God – to follow Jesus in His way – may be rather small and limited – but Jesus suggests they are steps on the path to a great result. Perhaps our limited attempts to do things Christ’s way may seem insignificant and unimpressive, but take heart, Jesus is impressed. He can see that we are on the road to the kingdom. Seemingly small gestures can point others toward God.

A woman in her 80’s bakes oatmeal cookies twice a week and then takes them to a youth prison camp. It’s a charming gesture, you think, nice for an older person to occupy herself baking cookies. The superintendent of that youth prison camp said: “Those cookies have transformed the whole place. Some of the young men who are incarcerated here have never in their whole lives received a gift from anybody – until they got a bag of those cookies. They stand there at the door, behind the bars, eagerly awaiting those cookies – like little boys rather than convicted criminals. Those cookies have changed them – they know someone cares about them.”

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. Matthew 13:33

A pinch of yeast can leaven a lot of flour. The point is small acts can lead to great results. Small acts of love and faithfulness can transform world around us. As Mother Teresa said “Do small things with great love – and start with those closest to you.”

The church is to be a sign of God’s promised kingdom – God’s appointed means of mission in the world – a visible presence of the body of Christ. But outsiders may look at our church and be unimpressed. When we think of the great mission given to the church, we may be disappointed at our progress.

Our second lesson is from Paul’s letter to the little Christian congregation in Rome. They considered themselves insignificant and for good reason. They lived among and were connected to a somewhat larger Jewish community. But their mission to convert them had had only small results. The church consisted of Jews who had become Christians, Gentiles who had become Jews and then Christians, and Gentiles who became Christians without becoming Jews first. Their Jewish neighbors viewed them with suspicion. The Jews of Rome were descendants of slaves brought to Rome over 100 years earlier. Some were still slaves, others free but poor. So that little Christian church was a “sect” within a lower class minority religion - insignificant in the eyes of most Romans.

If we only see ourselves from the world’s point of view, it is easy to see our church as insignificant. We’re a small church that is part of a minority denomination. In the 8^th chapter of Romans, Paul invites us to see things from God’s point of view, not the world’s. We’re part of something much bigger – God’s plan to bring His kingdom. We have been called and chosen by God for His purpose.

And those whom he called he also justified – brought into right relationship with Himself - and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:30

What now seems insignificant will be glorified by God. We’re not insignificant – and you’re not insignificant – because we have been called and chosen by Christ, according to His purpose. The Lord works through us and in us. It’s not just about our efforts, for God is at work. We may be weak, but we do not rely solely on our own strength. The Spirit helps us in our weakness... Romans 8:26

So we continue to work and pray, to believe and serve, confident that God sees things differently. He sees the small mustard seed of our faith – of our efforts, but also sees that great shrub it will become. He sees what we can become – our potential as a congregation and as individuals – and promises to continue to lead us in realizing that potential.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those whom who love God and are called according to His purpose. If we’ve answered his call to follow, and are living according to His purpose, then God can find a way to bring something good out of the bad stuff that happens to us. Behind the scenes, God is at work.

Even though we can’t see as God does – can’t see how our individual efforts are important to God’s plan and purpose – we are called to continue to work and pray Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. We have to focus on striving to live in accord with God’s will. Living under the rule of God – living in accord with his word – takes a single minded devotion which can reshape our priorities.

A recent book illustrates what that could mean: A Year of Living Biblically. The author, A. J. Jacobs is a magazine editor who took a year off so he could try living according to all the Old Testament rules. What makes it interesting is that he was not a practicing Jew. He said when he was growing up the closest his family came to observing their Jewish faith was putting a star of David on top of their Christmas tree. Not very Jewish.

Part of that Year of Living Biblically was learning to pray. So one day before lunch he decided to give it a try. He closed his eyes and said “I thank God for the land that he provided so the food could be grown.” You might think that was enough for a beginner. But he felt his gratitude went further. “I thank God for the farmer, and for the workers who harvested - and the truckers who drove it to the store - and the woman at the deli who sold it to me.”

He writes that giving thanks to God feels good. It makes him feel more connected and more grateful - more grounded and aware of his place in the world. Prayer reminds him that food does not spontaneously appear in his refrigerator - and he is fortunate to have food. That he has been blessed - which is an illustration of Jesus’ parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone found, then in his joy he sells all that he has to buy that field. Matthew 13:44

When one discovers the kingdom - that God’s way works, it bring joy - and it is worth giving stuff up to follow His way. Jacobs tried God’s way, found that it worked - made him a better person. But none of this would have happened if he had not focused on living the Bible.

Perhaps Jacob’s experience with prayer is an example of Paul’s words in Romans: For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words - Romans 8:26. You learn to pray simply by starting to pray. Don’t worry about having the right, words - just start talking to God - knowing that the Holy Spirit amplifies your words - fills in the blanks - and is praying with you and in you.

So this week spend a little more time talking to God in prayer. If you haven’t been praying every day, maybe this is the time to start. Just devote a little time to being quiet and talk to God about what ever bothers you. Don’t worry about getting the right words, for the Spirit prays with you.

Remember to thank God before your meals - just a moment to reflect on how you are blessed.

And this week remember that even the smallest acts of kindness are not insignificant in God’s eyes, for your compassion and generosity is one more sign of the coming kingdom of God. So treat others as you would be treated. Take the time to listen with compassion and understanding. Speak words of encouragement. Extend that helping hand. In other words, focus on following Jesus’ way in the small details of you daily life, so that His will is done and thus His kingdom - His rule - begins to dawn in your life.

And if you’re having a bad day when nothing is going right - when you feel down and insignificant - remember Paul’s words:

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor my fears for today, nor my worries about tomorrow, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-38