July 12
Divine Service
Matthew 6: 10
Your kingdom come.
Where are we in the Bible?
The question many people wrestle with is both simple and profound: When will the kingdom of God come? Scripture answers with a tension that stands at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. It has come, and it will come more fully in the future. It is here now, but also not yet.
Jesus speaks of a future kingdom when He says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:3). This promise points to a future fulfillment when God’s rule will be fully established, and the world will be free from sin, suffering, and brokenness. It assures believers that a perfected reality still lies ahead.
Yet Jesus also declares, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). Here, the kingdom is not distant or in the future; it is already present. Through Jesus Christ, God’s saving rule entered human history and began transforming lives. The kingdom of God has a distinct culture and is governed by love and peace.
Yet Jesus also declares, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). Here, the kingdom is not distant or in the future; it is already present. Through Jesus Christ, God’s saving rule entered human history and began transforming lives. The kingdom of God has a distinct culture and is governed by love and peace.
Summary:
We live as witnesses to both the present and the coming kingdom of God. We stand in the tension between the “now” and the “not yet,” experiencing the beginnings of God’s reign while longing for the day it will be fully realized. The kingdom of God—the central theme of Jesus’ preaching—is present within our space, time, and being when we follow Him, yet it also points us toward the future fulfillment of our prayer, “Your kingdom come,” when a just and peaceful world, free from evil, will be fully established.
Foundational Reading
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15
Catechism: 12.1.7.2.3, 6.2.3.4