Luke 11:1-4
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
As this disciple listened to his Lord pray, he longed to imitate his Savior. As soon as Jesus had finished His prayer, this disciple asked Him to teach them to pray. In a similar sense, we too can look to Jesus, our great High Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for us, and ask Him to teach us to pray. While there are many helpful books on prayer, there has never been a better teacher than Jesus. He was the most prayerful person to ever walk the earth, and He continues that ministry even now. So why go to the student when we have access to the Master?
When Jesus wanted to teach us to pray, He started with a model prayer:“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:2-4)
His prayer first recognizes God’s person. This is not just how we should pray but how we should think and live our entire lives. He acknowledges His relationship to God—“Our Father”—His sovereignty—“Which art in heaven”—and extols Him: “Hallowed be thy name.” It is helpful to remind ourselves who it is we are speaking to. These opening lines not only glorify God but also remind us that the God we speak to is our Father. While He is the Creator, higher than all creation and set apart, He still hears the prayers of His children. The God who is our Father is in heaven but is not removed from the affairs of earth. As Rahab testified: “For the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
Jesus then recognizes God’s purposes: “Thy kingdom come.” Here, He reminds the one praying that God has a purpose in all that He does. We are not walking through life aimlessly or floating about on some rock in space with no purpose. God knows the end from the beginning, and He has let us in on the secret: He wins. His Kingdom will come, and all things will be reconciled through Jesus Christ.
What peace this brings to the troubled heart! By and by, all things—yes, literally all things—will be reconciled by the work of God, and His Kingdom will be established. So what of these small sufferings of this life? I reckon that the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is coming.
Next, Jesus recognizes God’s plan: “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” The events between now and the coming of His Kingdom are set in accordance with His will. He knows the beginning from the end. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. His plan for this world and for His children will come to pass. Heaven is coming down to earth, and the two will be one!
I think this is why this prayer is so short—because once you realize who God is and submit to His purpose and plan, there is not much else to worry about. For me, at least, the majority of my time in prayer is spent just getting my forgetful mind into this state of recognizing who God is and remembering that He is in charge and that His name is worthy of all my praise.
Then, His model prayer shifts from the almighty nature of God to recognizing our human frailties. Jesus mentions two basic human realities: hunger and sinfulness. He teaches us to ask the Almighty God to meet our needs. Every day we need things—we need clothes, shelter, food, and provision to pass through this life. Yet how often do we try everything in our power to meet these needs instead of relying on His power? I sadly admit that many times my praying comes after much anxiety and effort instead of first taking my needs to Him.
What are the needs of human frailty in light of God’s almighty, sovereign ability? Honestly, do we think our needs, while far too heavy for us, are any effort for the God who created heaven and earth? “Look unto the hills, from whence cometh your help.” Look past the need to the God who is your Father, who has a purpose and plan, and who is more than able to meet your needs.
Another frailty we deal with is sin. It is a human reality for everyone. Jesus tells us to bring it to God! What a relief that we are invited into the throne room when we sin. Obviously, Jesus had no faults, but He was teaching all of us who do. We often have a human tendency to run from God when we sin and make a mess of things, but He invites us to come to Him, confess it, and receive forgiveness. What a relief that is!
I have tried to set that standard with my own children: if they have done something wrong, the first thing they should do is come and tell me. I have guaranteed them mercy and forgiveness in such cases. That is how my Father has treated me, and I hope this will encourage them to act in the same manner with their Heavenly Father as they come to know Him.
Lastly, Jesus prays for guidance and protection: “And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” The prayer ends with a look forward to the coming temptations and slippery spots on the road of life. Knowing that I have brought my needs before God, I also recognize there will, without fail, be new needs that arise throughout the day—unforeseen temptations and decisions that must sometimes be made in an instant.
This prayer anticipates the possibility of mistakes but asks God to deliver us before we even know we need it. As we close in prayer this morning, we ask the Lord to keep us throughout the day. Who knows what slippery slopes await us? Who knows what dangers lie ahead? In our closet, all is peace and clear skies, but experience has taught us that all can change in a moment. May God keep us at all times: “Deliver us from evil.”
Комментарии