"It refers to Christ" -- Ephesians 5:32

Grace, Mercy and Peace are yours from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We continue our review of the Catechism by reciting the 2nd and 3rd Petitions to the Lord's Prayer.

The Second Petition                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean?

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come?

God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

The Third Petition                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done?

God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. So we continually pray, all our days.

We desire the Lord’s Kingdom. We admit that we are lost outside of His Kingdom.

We want His will to be done. We recognize that our will is misdirected, bent away from good. We humbly beg for His will, trusting his will, comforted to know that His will is this: He wants to keep us in the faith until we die.

When we pray these things, we are confessing that God’s Kingdom, and God’s will is best. We confess that in the face of the devil, the world and our sinful nature which say, “No, not God’s will be done; here’s some other ways that are better, more fun, good for you.”

But what the devil, the world and your sinful nature hold out to you, will eventually lead you away from the Kingdom of God and will leave you outside of God’s good will.

Marriage is an example of this. It’s mentioned in the Epistle reading today from Ephesians 5:31    "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

When you pray, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” keep marriage in mind. God makes it very clear what marriage is supposed to be about. But the devil tempts men and women, married or unmarried to defile marriage by what they do, and how they talk and even in the way they think. The world, our society and culture has abandoned God’s will and abandoned sound reason, and redefined marriage to include perversions. Marriage should be very straight and clear and good.  But now we see the chaotic and evil effects in our society where marriage as an institution has fallen apart: People are growing up without a father or without a mother. Men roam around like beasts driven by their lust. Women are left heartbroken and hurt.

Marriage is a clear example of how God’s will is best. It’s best to follow His will for the sake of order and a healthy life. God, in his perfect will, has given good laws for human beings to follow. These laws were given in writing in the Bible. But he also wrote them in the heart of each reasonable person, so conscience and common sense can guide a person into good order. Simply put, follow God’s will, so life will go the way God wants it to go.

Beyond that, beyond following God’s will simply for the sake of good order in life, the words God tells us, serve to show us the Gospel, to show us Christ. That’s how St. Paul taught God’s words about marriage in Ephesians 5:31-32:   "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

A Christian wife loves her husband, honors her husband, submits to her husband because she loves Christ.

Ephes. 5:25     Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.   A Christian husband loves his wife, sacrifices for his wife, because he thinks and acts like Christ. A Christian husband is an imitator of Christ, although poorly.

Years ago, when the first George Bush was president, Dana Carvey would imitate him, impersonate him on TV. It was impressive and funny. Once while watching him, my father-in-law said, “Dana Carvey sounds more like George Bush, than George Bush does.” He was that good at it.

The rest of us, are only kind of good at impersonating, imitating. Husbands are called to impersonate Christ in their sacrificial love for their brides. We strive for that and we fail, we seek forgiveness and the Lord’s continual help to do what we have been called to do.

But however weak the examples are, learn the lesson that is being taught. If you ever see a man love his wife, and you wonder “why?” “How can he love that lady?” “How can he put up with her?”, see the lesson shown in that love, that’s how Christ loves His people. He accepts these filthy sinners, unfaithful, uncaring, unworthy of him, and he makes them his wife. He loves His bride. He share His kingdom with His bride.  He does whatever it takes for His bride. And what does it take for His bride? It takes everything. He must give up all for her, even dying for her on the cross.

Likewise, learn the lesson being taught by Christian women. If you ever see a wife love her husband, and you wonder, “Why?” “How can she love that guy?” “How can she stay devoted to him after all this time?”

Those are questions that many must be asking of the Christian Church, which is the bride of Christ as she loves a mysterious husband, as she follows his ancient way, as she trusts his unseen care, provision, and protection. The world, outside the Kingdom, asks why do those people still follow those outdated ways, and love that tired old husband.

The love of a Christian wife to her husband, and the love of Christian husband towards his wife will appear to be so different than the world’s understanding of love and marriage. The devil, the world and our sinful nature want to think about love as being manipulative and self-serving. In Christian marriage, the Lord teaches us true love. It refers to Christ and the Church.

            Pray for the Will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In this way you can have a godly life for you and your family. And more: You can be saved. Because God’s will is about daily life, here and now. And it is about Christ. It leads you to Christ and the church.

            The word of God, refers to Christ. It is about Christ. Marriage refers to Christ. It is about Christ. If it’s not about the Lord, it becomes yours to do with it as you please. And so many have, not only by redefining it to include the so-called “gay marriage” but also by breaking it, divorcing for little or no reason and defiling marriage by living together without the blessing and commitment of marriage.

Keep this in mind with other commands and promises we have from God. Let your life be defined and shaped and guided by the Lord’s commands and promises. Learn to follow God’s will. Pray for His will and His kingdom. And find blessings in His will for this life and forever.

Amen.