Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
Last Sunday we considered the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We noted that the kingdom of God in Scripture is not about a place but it refers to the rule of God. It is the reigning activity of God by which God brings about His purposes. We pray that God’s rule would be present everywhere to bring about the fulfillment of God’s will. We also observed that we pray this not only for the world, but for our own lives.
To surrender to God’s rule in our lives means we give Him control of our lives. Typically, we don’t like the idea of someone else exerting control in or over our lives. But in Mark 1:15, Jesus said that the kingdom (rule) of God is about good news. Why is this good news?
Letting God rule in our lives means we are surrendering control to the One whose wisdom is perfect, who knows the future as well as He knows the past. It means we are surrendering to the One who loves us perfectly – so much so that Jesus died for us, so we know God wants and works for what is truly best for us. Finally, it means we surrender to the One who has unlimited power to work in our lives and in all the circumstances we face to bring about His good will.
Put all of these together and it means we have the assurance of personal transformation. As we surrender to the wise, loving, and powerful rule of God, we become new people in Christ. Destructive habits and negative patterns can be replaced with what is good, wholesome, and satisfying. God will also direct us to a purpose that is truly fulfilling as we allow God to use us to impact others. As we yield to God’s rule, we are set free from false gods and unhealthy desires that would steal life from us. We can live each day with the assurance of His guidance and the certainty of His faithfulness.
So, each day let us surrender afresh to God’s good and gracious rule, so we can experience life in its fullest, deepest, and most joyful sense, so we can bless others and direct them to the One who loves them, and so we can bring glory to God through our lives.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob