Effie Darlene Barba

David committed a terrible sin against God!  He, the man after the heart of God (I Kings 15:3-5), had failed God when he committed adultery and caused the murder of Uriah.  Yet, David did not immediately go before God.  Instead he tried to “pretend” as though it would be ok.  After all, God had demonstrated His love for David over and over.  In fact, David tried to cover up his sin rather than to admit it.  Time passed.  Then God sent Nathan to present the truth to David; but, he did so through a story of injustice (2 Samuel 12).  As King, David demanded that the perpetrator must die.  Then, Nathan said to David, ‘Thou art the man’ (2 Samuel 12:7). Suddenly, David’s heart was broken over his own sin!  He saw it for the evil it was: a sin against God, who had been ever so gracious to David.

How like David, we are!  It is so easy to be incensed over the evil and sin in the world; yet, are we just as incensed over our own sin?  Do we look at the cross with a flippant “thank you”, never fully grasping the price that God paid to forgive us of our sin? What about our sin? Do we see it for what it really is: an abomination against Almighty God?  Or do we try to measure it as “not so bad”?  Is your heart truly broken by your own sin?  David came face to face with his sin.  He saw it for what it was, a sin against a Holy God who had so graciously dealt with David.  Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance.

A Heart Truly Broken by Sin

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As we have been studying the Lord’s Prayer, it began with placing God in His rightful position.  The prayer then turns to requesting God for our needs.  What are those needs most urgent: life sustaining provision, forgiveness, and protection.  Without these, we cannot survive.  But with these, what are we really asking God for?  Some would try to say, “Ok, God, I have rightly glorified you in my prayer first, so give me all I ask for”.  But that would be wrong!  In fact, if we think in that manner, we really haven’t understood or truly placed God on the throne.  This is not some magical formula for getting what we want.  Instead, it is recognizing His Place as Sovereign Lord over our life.  If we truly do that, then our requests become very humble. Give us day by day our daily bread (Luke 11:3).

Asking God for Bread

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As we continue through the Lord’s Prayer, we come to “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).  Perhaps it is very easy to say, “I trust God.  And I want His will to be done in my life and on earth.” However, what if His plan in my life includes that battle with  Icancer, the death of a loved one, a divorce I never wanted or planned for?  What if my finances are turned upside down or I find myself without a job.  Do I really “Thy Will Be Done”?

Furthermore, do I really believe that God IS fully Sovereign. And that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. When life’s storms rage around me, do I believe? Or when I see the spiritual battle raging within our own nation, do I really mean it when I pray, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)?

When I look at the world around me, filled with injustice, do I truly believe that God has a perfect plan here and now?  He has said, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).  Do I cry forth like Habakkuk, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:2).  However, after his discussion with God, Habakkuk surrendered to God’s will as we see in Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Trusting in His Plan

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When we look around us at all the evil, the bitterness, anger, and hatred, we plead “thy kingdom come!” (Matthew 6:10).  We look within our own hearts, longing to know the transformation is complete, loathing our own failures.  So, how are we to live in joyful expectation of God’s Kingdom?  Is it possible to know the righteousness, peace, and joy of God’s Kingdom here and now? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).  However, we live in a world so filled with concerns, work, finances, relationships, and obligations.  Furthermore, we live in an earthly body so filled with desires for pride, self-exaltation; wrought with frailties.  Therefore, how can we live a life filled with joyful expectation of God’s Kingdom; while facing so many obstacles without and within?

Although, we may fully understand that Christ has won the victory once and for all against sin, death, and destruction.  Yet, anyone who has lived the Christian life for any length of time knows all too well the moments of our own failure to love as we should, forgive others, or even trust God.  Longing for that day, we cry out as Paul did. “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  (Romans 8: 21-23).

God’s Kingdom

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