TEACH US TO PRAY

"In this manner, therefore, 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 this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."  Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV.

I love the fact that the Apostles, who were witnesses to hearings, resurrections of the dead, the expelling of demons and much more while they walked with Jesus, asked Him for one thing..."Lord, teach us to pray..." (Luke 11:1 NIV).  It was not teach us how to do the things you do, those miracles on display.  It was not show me how to walk on water!  It was teach me to pray.  I think those guys were on to something.  Jesus did all these powerful miracles before thousands of witnesses, yet the Apostle asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

What I love even more is Jesus’ reply to this request.  There was no condemnation, no judgement, no derogatory statements.  Jesus did not say “Don’t you fools know anything?”  or anything to that affect.  Keep in mind Jesus did rebuke and instruct his disciples throughout their time together.  “you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20 NIV) and in other Gospels as well.  So it was not uncommon for Jesus to start a lesson with a rebuke.  But not this time!  Not this request!  No, “He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:

‘Father,

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

Not only did Jesus not give them a hard time, but gave them a phenomenal model for prayer.  It is a prayer that has everything a prayer needs.  It honors God the Father; it asks God’s will be done; it asks for His word each day as well as His provision; it asks for our sins to be forgiven and to allow us to forgive others; and asks to help us avoid temptation.  I would like to explore this prayer further in the next blog.

God bless.