Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

May 2, 2024

Today's Reading: The Lord’s Prayer - Third Petition

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 24:1-23, Leviticus 25:1-55, Luke 12:54-13:17

What is 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. (Small Catechism, 3rd Petition and Explanation)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Scripture speaks of God’s will, it simply means what God wants. And what does God want for you? First, to do for Him. Basically, the Ten Commandments. The Commandments are God’s will, not suggestions. Whatever work is good, that is described by the Ten Commandments. God is pleased when these Commandments are done. So when you do these works, which Christians can only begin to do in this life, you are serving God. You also serve God when you serve your neighbor. The Catechism reminds us with every explanation to the Commandments that begins by saying, “We should fear and love God so that we…” Because of our sinful nature, we cannot keep the Commandments well enough to justify ourselves. So for this part of God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, God Himself must act.

God wants second, for Him to do. God wants to rescue you from your sins and to redeem you. To do this, He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and to rise for your justification. Jesus, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God, was sent to die for your sins by God’s good and gracious will. Now, having ascended, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit who speaks of Him. The Holy Spirit operates by the pure preaching of the Word and by the Sacraments. This, too, is God’s will. Luke 7:30 says that the Pharisees and teachers of the law rejected God’s will by not being baptized by John. So receiving the Sacraments is part of God’s will. Not as a commandment to obey, but as a Gift of grace to receive. By the Means Of Grace, faith in Jesus is strong. God wants to declare you righteous by Jesus through faith in Him alone.

These two ways are how God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. By this, the will of our spiritual enemies is broken and hindered. God be praised. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Heavenly Father, guard our faith and our life so we believe Your Holy Word and walk according to Your Commandments, and that we entrust our lives to Your good and gracious will. Amen.