“Son, always know what your signing – a man’s word is his bond.”  My father’s advice was sage.   And I tried to live by that maxim.  That is, until, I purchased my first house.   The number of pages to sign appeared greater than the number of dollars borrowed.   I was overwhelmed.   My settled conviction to read everything before signing ran headlong into practical reality.   Sensing my crisis, the loan officer quipped.  “Let me to make it easy.   If you pay you stay, if you don’t you won’t.   It all boils down to that.”   With that abridgement, I signed like an author at a book signing.  And we were done by lunch.  

This experience prepared me for the digital age.   Every website, download, and upgrade come with a cornucopia of legalese.   It’s all there in black and white — all terms of use, privacy agreements, and obligations.   Of course, we are free not to sign, but then we are also not free to use.   We all agree that we should read, but do not.    Virtually every part of our digital life demands the sacrifice of my father’s maxim.  We check the box and click “I agree” in a New York second.   Then Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and the NSA have us dead-to-rights.   But we did get free email and shipping.

Failing to pay attention to what we read has consequences.   But so does failing to pay attention to what we say.    We are quick repeat what we hear without careful reflection.  With a single click we can ‘share’ our lack of reflection in a dozen ways.   And what is a problem for conversation is deadly for prayer.  How much do we reflect on what we pray?  Jesus warned us about “vain repetition” in prayer.     

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…’” 

Matthew 6:7-10

Many Christians pray this regularly.   Perhaps you pray it each week in worship.   And though the Lord’s prayer is both a prayer to be prayed and a pattern for be followed, it can easily be vainly repeated.    How serious are we about the Father’s kingdom coming?  Not some time in the distant future in a galaxy far, far away but here and now.   How eager are we for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?    Sure, we want our daily bread and forgiveness for our debts, but how about the reign and rule of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our day-to-day life and the world we inhabit.  Has this cry become a vain repetition?  A word we utter, but pay no attention?  

In Revelation 11:15 the persistent prayer of the church is answered.  “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

In this answered prayer we are reminded that God delights to answer our prayer.   Even the most remarkable request.   The vision of the Seventh Trumpet declares that we are not forgotten by our God.   Our prayers are not in vain.   Therefore, we ought to pray boldly, earnestly, and expectantly.   Not vainly or carelessly.   Join us this week as we examine Revelation 11:15-19 and consider the prayer God delights to answer – that His kingdom come and His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We meet from 5:00 – 6:30 pm, outside on The Pavilion at St. Andrews Anglican Church at 8300 Kanis Rd in Little Rock for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  You can also join us on Facebook Live @RiverCityARP or on YouTube.  For the Order of Service, click here.