Happy Friday, one and all
“…’Lord, teach us to pray,…” [Luke 11:1c]
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [Matthew 6:9-13]
To my knowledge, these are the only two passages where Jesus gives instructions to His disciples about praying. Therefore I think it prudent to give proper respect to each word of this instruction:
“…Our Father…”-not my Father, not your Father, but our Father-He is called ‘God the Father’ because He is the Father of us all. Some of us have a gift that not even God Himself is able to have-grandchildren. But we are all children of the living God.
“…in heaven…“-heaven was created by God and is the home of God: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” [Genesis 1:1]
“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool….” [Acts 7:49a,bfrom Isaiah 66:1b,c]
“…hallowed be your name…“–I don’t know about you, but in praying the Lord’s Prayer, this is the only time I use the word ‘hallowed’, which means holy, or sacred, or honored. The name of God is important to Him, as it is 10% of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” [Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11].
Notice I didn’t say ‘reciting’ the Lord’s Prayer, or ‘saying’ the Lord’s Prayer, because it is meant to be ‘prayed’ (This, then, is how you should pray….) As we pray it each week in church, I try to focus on one phrase or another, as the Spirit leads. If you don’t do that already, give it a try.
You didn’t think I could cover the entire prayer in one sitting, did you! Barring a superseding message this week, I’ll try next week for part #2.
Blessings to all,
Keith