Matthew 6:9-10, New International Version

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

When Jesus said, “This is how you should pray,” I do not believe He meant that we should only repeat the words exactly as He said them, word by word. Instead, we should pray with understanding and agreement in our hearts.

Take a moment to think about what Jesus meant when He said, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” According to the understanding the Holy Spirit reveals through the Word, this means the principles of earth should align with the principles of heaven.

So, what is the principle of God? Let’s gain the answer from the most important commandments.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied:  “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40, NIV)

Throughout history, we can confidently make this statement: the principle of a kingdom is based on the principle of the king. So, if the most important and greatest commandment the King has given is love, and just as He has revealed to us that God is love, then no one should doubt what Jesus meant when He instructed us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10,  John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8, 16). He meant that we should love like Him on earth as it is in heaven.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV)

I know I have shared the definition of love many times, yet it is worth emphasizing again: the love of His Kingdom is not the same as what we find in the dictionary from the knowledge of the world, nor in the statements given by society. Because God is the only source of love, without Him, true love cannot be found.

God is love. He is the source of love. He demonstrated His love by humbling Himself, and through His action of love, His justice was done. His grace and mercy have been given. In His lovingkindness, He showed us love while we were still sinning against Him (John 3:36; Philippians 2:7-9; Romans 5:8-9).

Love is the character of God and the first fruit of the Spirit of God.

“We love each other because he loved us first.” (1 John 4:19, NLT)

Abide in Him, be filled with His love, and go. Love God and love others as yourself, on earth as it is in heaven!