Lord Jesus, this past Sunday, as our church family gathered to worship you, the sweet sound of many voices filled the room. As we prayed words you gave your disciples as a framework for prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), I was reminded how confusing some of the language was to me as a kid. I’m grateful the Gospel has “filled in the blanks.”
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” – By your finished work, Jesus, we have been adopted into God’s heart and family. We now get to “hallow”–that is, revere, rest, and rejoice in our Father, and everything God is and does.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” – At your return Jesus, God’s kingdom will come in fullness on earth. We’ve never been gladder for that Day to arrive. The kingdom is in us because you indwell us. The kingdom is here in part, calling for our singular obedience over every other citizenship.
“Give us today our daily bread” – Daily dependence upon, and fellowship with our Father, is both a discipline and a delight. For both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment, we remain needy, expectant, and grateful.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” – Jesus, by your finished work, we have already been forgiven all of our sins. (Hallelujah!) We are now free to confess our sins on a daily basis—appropriating the forgiveness we already have received. We also remember the “debt of love” (Rom. 13:8)—our daily calling to forgive others as we have been forgiven.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” – By these words, we acknowledge our weakness and “tempt-ability,” Jesus. Until you return, we are capable of thinking, speaking, and acting in ways that contradict your beauty and love. Protect us from ourselves, Lord.
And though you have defeated the devil, he’s yet to be eradicated. His schemes and wiles will persist until the Day of your return. Protect us, Jesus, from the roaring, roaming lion. Thank you, and So Very Amen.
