There Is A Difference

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them. [Numbers 20.6-13]

Jesus said, "Pray like this..."

I just realized today that Jesus did not teach us to "ask" God for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! Instead, Jesus taught us to "declare" God's Kingdom and His will!

There is a difference.

When considering Kingdom authority passed on by Jesus to His followers, it makes sense that we, as believers, are not responsible to ask God for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done (as it is in heaven). It makes sense because we are not pitiful subjects of God's Kingdom in need of God's blessing, but kings and priests in His Kingdom - we are ambassadors, representatives, for the Kingdom to bring His Kingdom and His will to the earth as it is in heaven! Yes, there is a difference indeed.

Unfortunately, we find ourselves much like Moses and Aaron though - not obediently speaking with the authority of God as He instructed us, but rather sheepishly asking for His Kingdom and His will.

While it may seem safe enough - even humble enough - to ask for His Kingdom and His will (as it certainly is even appropriate for us to ask at first for His Kingdom and His will as it is in heaven - say, starting with salvation), it is NOT what we are instructed by our Savior to do! Moses did in fact once before "strike" a rock as instructed and it produced water. But in this event (described above), Moses was instructed to "speak" to the rock instead.

What I am trying to convey is that we are, at first, in need of the Kingdom in our lives. However, after that, when we are saved, we are then responsible as ambassadors of the Kingdom to speak it into the earth around us. No matter that we may have necessarily "asked" for the Kingdom at first, it is now our ongoing duty (as the men who heard Jesus teach this were already committed to following Him) to "represent" the Kingdom - not "ask" for it. We cannot rely on past experiences like striking a rock or asking for the Kingdom - even though they "worked the first time - to substitute as an alternative for what we are clearly instructed to do going forward.

Oh yes, there is a difference!

Father, please give me eyes to see Your Word as You so faithfully continue to speak to me through it!