Matthew 6:13b (NIV): For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
In the closing words of the Lord’s Prayer, God’s followers are focused back on Who He is and what He can do. In the body of the prayer, we ask God to do some pretty amazing things: to make His name and reputation a holy thing throughout the earth through us; to make His kingdom a here-and-now reality in this world; to provide every one of His children with all that we need today; to extend complete forgiveness to us for every sin that we have committed; to keep all of his children from hard testing; and to defeat the enemy on our behalf. Tall orders all! Some might even say that their fulfillment is impossible in this broken world – unrealistic to even imagine until the return of Jesus.
But in this closing, which was actually commonly used to close prayers in Jesus’ day, even among the rabbis, we are given 3 areas to focus on:
- God’s is the kingdom. That means that God is the absolute sovereign of the universe. It is not a matter of people deciding whether He is our ruler or not; He is! It is only a matter of whether we will choose to submit to His authority and rulership, or instead choose to live in rebellion, and thus doom ourselves. When we pray this phrase, we are submitting ourselves to God’s authority, and offering ourselves as instruments to be used by Him to make His kingdom a here-and-now reality.
- God’s is the power. This is our profession and declaration that God is the all-powerful One, and that nothing is too difficult for Him. He brought forth the universe with the words of His mouth. He brought the great earth-shattering flood with a thought. Nothing is beyond His ability or strength. If He promises to provide for His people, we will receive abundant provision. If He promises forgiveness, it will be full and complete. If He promises to make His people holy and pure, we will be completely holy and pure. And if He promises us power, it will be His power working through us to do even greater works than Jesus. (cf. John 14:12)
- God’s is the glory. This refers to the glory of His presence with His people, just like He manifested in both the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35) and in the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). When we pray this, we are acknowledging that God’s presence is powerfully among us to do all that we ask, as well as to enable and empower us to do all that He has commanded. He promised His people on the edge of the Promised Land that He would never leave or forsake them (Joshua 1:5), and Jesus echoed that in His promise to His disciples (Matthew 28:20). This declaration claims that promise of God’s all-powerful presence.
Father, I thank You and praise You for Your lordship in my life; the undeniable fact that You are the Sovereign of the whole universe, and always and ever in control. I thank You and praise You that You are the all-powerful One, who can and will do all You have promised, no matter how impossible it may seem to us. And I thank You and praise You for Your powerful presence working in our midst, always present, just as You promised. Amen!