Article November 13, 1978 Issue

"Thy kingdom come"

ERIKA GLADHORN

The Christian may not always be aware of the twofold aspect of this petition in the Lord's Prayer. He or she may have foremost in thought that God's kingdom—with its justice and mercy, its impartial righteousness and bestowal of all good to everyone—should appear in the world. God's kingdom, the Christian realizes, should correct mankind's shortcomings with regard to justice and the beliefs of lack so evident among nations, mentally as well as materially, in quality as well as in quantity.

After giving the line deeper attention and studying all the sayings of the master Christian, Christ Jesus, however, we find that the kingdom of God must first come, or be established, in our thought before it can appear in the world around us. In Christian Science we learn that all we see and experience with our material senses of the so-called outside world is actually the manifestation of thoughts and sentiments cherished in consciousness by ourselves and others. If we wish to improve the outside, we have to improve the inside. The spiritual thought or content is the true substance, which gives form.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."^{Luke 17:20, 21;}

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Thanksgiving every day