THE LORD’S PRAYER: REFLECTIONS FOR LENT (Reflection 4)

Reflection 4: 3^rd Petition: Your will come to be, as in heaven, even on earth [itself]

[See Feb. 22, 2026 for translation and Reflection 1.] 

The first three petitions put us in a right relationship with God.  They are made on God’s behalf.  Praying them puts us in our rightful place, in submission to God.  When prayed consistently, the first petition sets the primary desire of our hearts on seeing the holiness of God revealed to the world.  The second petition changes our perspective to see life in terms of spreading the reign of God, God’s kingdom on earth.

The third petition addresses the core of our lives’ expression, what we will, our volition.  When we pray for God’s will to be done in our earthly realm, we are subordinating ourselves to God.  We are moving from seeing how God might advance God’s kingdom within our sphere of influence – a change of perspective – to actually submitting our hopes, plans, and actions to living out God’s hopes, plans, and actions.   Being born again/from above¹ is rather literally taking place in us as this petition moves from our hearts to our lips and is vocalized before the throne of God.

I observe, evaluate, and respond to all of life through the perspective of “me.”  From the moment of birth our sense of self, “I,” is embodied in our sensory awareness in distinction from what lies outside of us.  Everything we think and do emerges from that embodied sense of self; everything, that is, until we give our lives to Jesus.  Then that orientation begins to change.  Our identity, indeed our consciousness changes.  I find that I often do not just think thoughts to myself, but I am speaking them internally to Jesus.  You and I are now embodied in God.  God is embodied in us through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5).  We are no longer our individually embodied selves.  We are organically members of the living Body of Christ.  Our identity, our “self,” has a new, broader dimension that shapes our will.

Nowhere do we see more clearly what this exchange of willful identity means than in the Incarnate Jesus, God’s embodied will “as in heaven, even on earth.”  And this new self’s will/volition is no more clearly seen than when Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane.  There Jesus prays to the Father with a self (soul) deeply grieved almost to death (Mark 14:34).  He pleads that his pending trial, beating and crucifixion would not take place, that this hour would pass unfulfilled, “Take this cup from me!”  But as his breath continues, Jesus adds, “however, not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:35-36).  In his humanity, Jesus’ first inclination is to demur in the face of crucifixion.  That is significant to me.  Jesus knew.  He was not Superman with bullets bouncing off his chest.  Jesus deeply knew what was pending.  However, in his completely-submitted-to-God humanity, Jesus willed God’s will.  That is the new, willful identity which we are allowing to be molded in us, when we pray, “Your will come to be, as in heaven, even on earth.”

Journal Reflections

1. My head knowledge of what God desires of me and my heart’s submission are quite at odds.  I want God to show me one thing today in which Jesus wants more of me, of my will, my identity.  What would that be for you?

2. As part of Christ’s larger Body, the Church, what form would that submission be in terms of your local church and the role you play?

3. During Lent, we are reminded that being obedient to death was not a light matter for Jesus.  But, Jesus’ obedience to death to advance the Kingdom of God was for you and me.  What would you like to say to Jesus?

Prayer quote:

Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher. (John Wesley, Letter to John Trembath, August 17, 1760; in The Letters of John Wesley, Volume 4, edited by John Telford [Epworth Press, 1931].

 Note:

1. The Greek adverb that is used in Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus in John 3 (verses 3 and 7), which leads up to John 3:16, can have two different meanings “over again” or “from above.”  Given that the Gospel of John frequently uses wordplay such as double entendre and puns, it is likely that both nuances were meant to come to mind: to be born again is to be born from above.

LESSONS FROM JONATHAN

If people know anything about Jonathan, the son of King Saul, they probably know that he was a faithful friend to David.  I learned two more important things about Jonathan recently. First, he would have made a wonderful king.  Second, he was very sensitive to what God was doing in God's Kingdom.

Jonathan as King
In the past, I have thought of Saul as a foil to David, the poor king versus the good king.  That may be true, but the biblical narrator presents Jonathan in contrast to Saul in 1 Sam 13-14.  In these chapters we get a negative portrayal of Saul.  He does not seek the will of God (e.g. 14:18-19) but tries to coerce God's favor (e.g. 13:12) and, consequentially, loses his right to a dynasty (13:13-14).  (See the previous devotional on religious ritual and Saul).  His men are not confident behind him.  They are trembling and fleeing before the Philistines (13:6-7, 11).
Our portrait of Jonathan in 14:1-15 is quite different.  He trusts God and seeks God’s will.  He goes out against a Philistine outpost with just his armor-bearer, confident that God could deliver by few or by many.  His attack leaves the Philistines trembling and fleeing.  Jonathan had the unwavering support of his armor-bearer (14:7) and gained the support of Saul's army who recognized that God had brought about deliverance from the Philistines through Jonathan (14:45).  Jonathan would have made a great king.

Jonathan as Discerner of God’s Will
We receive another portrait of Jonathan in 18:1-4.  In the previous two chapters we learn that God has now chosen David to be Saul’s successor and God’s Spirit has passed from Saul to David (Ch 16, see verses 13-14); and, we watch David’s faith in God in action as he faces Goliath in battle (Ch 17).  Jonathan was a witness to the latter event.  However, the narrator has left Jonathan out of the scenes about Saul’s dynasty ending (13:13-14) and about David’s anointing to become the next king (Ch 16).  As the audience, we know this about Saul and David.  Jonathan does not have this knowledge.  He, as the first-born son of Saul and second in command of Saul’s army, was the prince who was next in line for the throne.  As we follow the narrative, we are set up to wonder, “How will Jonathan respond to David, the man who threatens to take away his whole future?”  In 18:1-4 we learn the answer.  Jonathan becomes one in spirit with David, makes a covenant with him, and gives him his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt.  What is happening here is most significant.  Jonathan gives what would be his royal robe to David, a symbol of passing on his role to David.  We are told that when the prophet Elijah was about to die, he gave his mantle to Elisha who would be his successor (1Kgs 19:19).  We also have a text in Isaiah 22:19-22 in which a person is deposed from office by his robe being taken from him and given to another person.  So without telling us directly, the narrator reveals Jonathan's heart, spiritual discernment, and submission to God.  Jonathan perceives the will of God.  Jonathan recognizes David as the successor to the throne and voluntarily yields to him!

Application:
Jonathan, who would have a made a good, faithful king, gave up all royal power and authority he would have gained to submit to the leading of God.  The overall challenge to me is to examine what pursuits I have that I need to give up in order to be in line with God’s Kingdom.  I think those matters tend to be clear – there is the conviction of the Holy Spirit – but they may still be difficult to surrender.  The daily challenge Jonathan’s story presents to me is to ask, “What is God doing around me that I am not recognizing because I am focused on matters that profit me?”  I start my day praying, “Jesus, what are you up to today?  I would like to be included.”  However, I do not get too far into my day before I become self-absorbed and insensitive to the things of God.

Lord, it is meaningless for me to pursue anything that is not in line with Your will and Your Kingdom.  Help me to become increasingly sensitive to my straying away from that focus.  Call me back by Your Spirit.  Rebuke me and turn me around.  Amen.