Morning By Morning #303

This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…”

Matthew 6:9

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

The Lord’s Prayer begins where all true prayer should begin—with the spirit of adoption: “Our Father.” No prayer is acceptable until we can say, “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18 KJV). This childlike spirit will then soon perceive the grandeur of the Father “in heaven” and ascend to the devout adoration of “hallowed be your name.” The childish mouthing of“ Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15) quickly grows into the angelic cry, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3).

Then there is only one step from rapturous worship to a radiant missionary spirit, which is the certain outgrowth of devoted love and reverent adoration—”your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God: “Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). Further illumination led by the Spirit takes us to the discovery that we are not only dependent but also sinful. Hence the plea for mercy: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). Once we have been pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and knowing we have been accepted by God, we humbly plead for holy perseverance: “Lead us not into temptation” (Matt. 6:13).

Someone who is truly forgiven is eager not to offend again, for possessing justification leads one to a strong desire for sanctification. The phrase—”Forgive us our debts”—is justification, while—”lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”—is sanctification, stated in a negative and a positive way. Finally, as a result of all this, a triumphant attribution of praise flows forth: “yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matt. 6:13, NIV verse note). We rejoice that our King reigns in sovereignty and shall reign in grace “from the River to the ends of the earth” (Ps. 72:8), and that “his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:33).

In summary, from a sense of adoption that ultimately rises to the level of fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer guides our soul.

“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

A beautiful complement to the Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’ prayer in John 17. In this High Priestly Prayer, He again discloses the truth of election in praying for His followers: “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me” (v. 9). And He also prayed for His followers yet to come: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message” (v. 20).

During our most difficult times, we may wish to be taken on to heaven so we no longer have to deal with our problems, but Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (v. 15), which is consistent with the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus prayed for our unity as well: “May they be brought to complete unity” (v. 23), and shared the idea of His indwelling life: “I have made you known to them…that I myself may be in them” (v. 26). Perhaps best of all, He gave us the following glorious definition: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (v. 3).