By Benjamin H. Liles
Lately, I have been going through the Lord's Prayer showing how Jesus intended us to pray to Him as well as to the Father. While it is the "model" prayer of the believer found and following Christ, the basics are within the structure of this prayer Jesus teaches the disciples to continue on in doing.
Today, as we focus on the part where it says, "on earth as it is is heaven," we look at what that means, and how we can do that in our lives: specifically, daily living towards one another.
Paul says, "Carry one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, Berean Study). What is the law of Christ? Jesus summed it up very easily when addressing the laws and commandments of God: "'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 depend on these two commandments'" (Matthew 22:37-40, Berean Study).
If Love is the hallmark of the Christ-filled life then why do we not grasp this and work it into our daily lives since we are so willing to "profess" Jesus Christ as being ours? I think it comes down to the fact we only "profess" His name, not simply confessing His name. Confessing the name of Jesus Christ means that we are able to lift Him up, showing the world what it means to live in and operate by love. When He came and restored sight to the blind, giving the lame the ability to walk, and healing the deaf man of being mute Jesus the Messiah was doing the will of the Father in His life.
Therefore, this phrase, "on earth as it is in heaven," means we are doing something great and wonderful outside of ourselves, not from selfish ambition, or earthly, fleshly pride, but giving and extending the love of the Father to others "on earth." Recall the words which Jesus gave, "What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:11-13).
Love is the hallmark of the Christian believer. He not only confesses Jesus as his or her Lord and Savior, but he or she acts and does the will of Him who set them free from sin and death, having extended his life and righteousness to them who believe. It is His good gift to give because they realized their sin was too much for them to bear on their own. They, came to Jesus, to forgive them their debt, which we will get to in a future study, and now in their love and zeal for Him live out their life of faith giving "little pieces of heaven" to those "on earth" who truly need to see God at work in their midst. This is then the will of God, to do good, to live justly, to walk humbly, not only with God, but with men also.
It is my humble and honest prayer that as you go forth today in the name of Jesus the Messiah to live as Jesus the Messiah called you to do: to love others more so than yourself; to give to others what they don not have, and to extend mercy to all. I know some will talk disparagingly, put you down, and give hate, but still walk in the light and the love of the Father found in Jesus and continue in His will for you and your life. I ask this in the name of Jesus, that He be your portion, your strength, and that He goes before you in all things, to sustain and to uphold you. In His name I send this to you. Amen.