On Earth As It Is in Heaven

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In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus makes many petitions to his father.  Two of the petitions focus upon God’s kingdom and the desire to see his kingdom advance throughout the earth.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  -Matt. 6:10

  • Always remember that prayer is not about my name but about God’s name.
  • Prayer is not about my kingdom but God’s Kingdom.
  • Prayer is not about my will but God’s will.

When we pray, we are not seeking to bend God to our desired outcome.  We are submitting ourselves to his desire.  May his kingdom come and his will be done.

Jesus also included an interesting descriptor concerning how his will should be done.  The prayer is that God’s will would be carried out here on earth just as it is carried out in heaven.  Since none of us have gone to heaven, we must rely on Scripture to see what the spiritual climate is like.

As we are Christ’s servants on earth, angels are Christ’s servants in heaven.  Scripture teaches us how the angels carry out God’s will in heaven.

  • Angels were created by God and for God (Col. 1:16)
  • Angels shouted for joy at Creation (Job. 38:7)
  • Angels never stop worshiping God (Rev. 4:8)
  • Angels rejoice over one repentant sinner (Luke 15:10)
  • Angels support the spread of the gospel (Rev. 14:6)
  • Angels submit to Jesus (1 Pet. 3:22)
  • Angels long to understand salvation (1 Pet. 1:12)
  • Angels gather joyfully in God’s presence (Heb. 12:22)
  • Angels do God’s bidding and obey his Word (Ps. 103:20)
  • Angels minister to those who receive salvation (Heb. 1:14)
  • And much more!

In light of these truths, how does this help us understand how we should pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven?  

Think about this: When God desires something to happen in heaven, what is the manner in which the angels carry it out?

What would it look like for the Church to carry out his desires on earth as the angels carry it out in heaven?

In heaven, when God asks for something, there is a stampede to see which angel can be first in line to be used by their God!

That’s how we should pray!  That’s how we should commit to serve!  Lord, when you say jump, I want to say, “how high?”

In your time of prayer, commit to God that you desire his Kingdom to come and his will to be done in your life.  Seek to fulfill his desire as eager as the angels do.  Commit your life to his Kingdom work!