If there are a top two things that should concern us the most, it would not be money for retirement or other financial concerns. It would not be our health. It would not be what job that we had to support our livelihood or our performance on that job. It would not be our weight or physical appearance. It would not generally be ourselves or the rest of our family.
Yes, these things do concern us, but if we could name the top two things that should concern us the most, it would be that God’s name be hallowed and that God’s kingdom would come and His will be done.
Here is our Lord’s Prayer starts – “… Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10.
Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states about these first two petitions –
Question 122. Which is the first petition?
Answer. “Hallowed be thy name”; that is, grant us, first, rightly to know thee, and to sanctify, glorify and praise thee, in all thy works, in which thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather honored and praised on our account.
Question 123. Which is the second petition?
Answer. “Thy kingdom come”; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may submit ourselves more and more to thee; preserve and increase thy church; destroy the works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee; and also, all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word; till the full perfection of thy kingdom take place, wherein thou shalt be all in all.
And so, thanks to God, here comes the triumph! God “always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” Praise God!
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
For Arminians who believe in man’s free will, and how it is solely up to them to peddle and hawk God’s word to evangelize and to also otherwise prevent those whom God desires to save from going to hell, how they wring their hands throughout their lives in worry and fear that they are not doing enough and not doing it well enough!
But, for Calvinists a/k/a the Reformed who believe in “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Reformed doctrine of salvation, how they live their lives in triumph trusting God to work in them to manifest through them the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place and to irresistably draw to salvation and preserve the elect which are those “being saved”! Verses 14 and 15.
The Arminians wring their hands throughout their lives in worry and fear that they will not speak enough or speak convincingly, and so they frantically peddle (corrupt – King James Version) the word of God. But, the Calvinists “speak in Christ”. Verse 17. Through Christ, and in Christ, the Calvinists a/k/a Reformed believers sincerely speak the truth.
In conclusion, for these two most important things (God’s name be hallowed and that God’s kingdom would come and His will be done), let us exalt God, praise God, and thank God that He “always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 