Wednesday of Lent 2

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. — 2 Timothy 4:18

Paul wrote to Timothy in the midst of personal struggle and conflict.

He was abandoned and harmed even by those he thought would stand beside him. Yet Paul trusts in the Lord and rightly confesses that trust when he says that the Lord would deliver him from every evil and would preserve him. The evil deeds to which Paul refers are those things that would seek to take away Paul’s faith in Christ. Paul’s desire is that he would remain faithful unto death, always trusting in the righteousness that Christ brings.

So too for us. When we are assaulted by the evils of this world that would seek to rob us of our faith in Christ, we pray “Thy kingdom come” always praying for more faith in the face of evil assaults and diabolic deeds. And as God gives us His Holy Spirit so that by His grace we believe His word,

He preserves us both here in time and forevermore in eternity. Even as God reigns in our hearts by faith do we also eagerly yearn for the heavenly kingdom to come.

When we pray, “Thy kingdom come” we pray for both. Here and now we pray be kept in the one true faith, in the kingdom of God. We also pray that we would be kept in that faith unto life everlasting, where the evils of this world will be no more, and we shall be with the Lord and see Him face to face. And God is faithful to both promises, that by grace He would rule in our hearts now by faith and that He will bring us to His heavenly kingdom where we shall live godly lives with Him forever.

Heavenly Father, as you have so graciously promised to rescue and preserve us from all evil, so we pray that your kingdom would come to us now and that you would safely bring us to that heavenly kingdom where you live and reign with the Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.