A familiar verse to many, this part of the Lord’s Prayer has a deep meaning for me. Years ago I was reading this passage in my King James version of the Bible, and I noticed something I’d never noticed before. I’d spent my life quoting this prayer and had always said, “… Thy Kingdom come, ON earth as it is in Heaven.” But this version said IN earth as it is in Heaven.
Immediately, I was able to see that God wants His Kingdom ON the EARTH, yes… but He is also concerned with having His kingdom residing IN each of us! Adam was created from the dust of the earth. Scientists have found that we are all about 86% water and the rest will eventually return to some pretty basic components. We are that “earth” that God wants His Kingdom to reside in!
Whether you look at the KJV version of Matt 6:10 or Luke 11:2, the word used in the Hebrew is “IN,” not “ON.” The translation has both meanings, but I believe that we miss a LOT of what God intends if we think that the corporate EARTH is to be the only place His Kingdom is to reside.
So look inside. Is God able to establish His Kingdom in you? Are you willing to be part of all that God is doing in YOUR earth? As we each submit our “earth” to Him, the Kingdom of God will emerge as God intended!