Rev. June Stoker
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13
“Pray then in this way: 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 also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Thought for the Day: Prayer is arguably the greatest mystery of life. It lies at the very heart of a mysterious relationship that we enjoy with God. There are some things that we simply do not understand about prayer, yet there are many things that we do know about prayer because we have been taught them directly, and nowhere more clearly than Matthew 6:9-13, a passage that I call “The Disciples’ Prayer.” It is the pattern for praying that Jesus gave to the disciples. In studying this prayer, I came across this passage from an “Unknown Author” that I would like to share with you. I believe it helps to show the pattern that Jesus was teaching. Since I have been using this pattern of prayer in my prayer life, I find a clearer channel of communication with God. And I think more about the way I am living as a Christian as I go through my daily routines by remembering this pattern. I believe that is what Jesus is still teaching His disciples today.
- I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself.
- I cannot say “Father” if I do not endeavor each day to act like his child.
- I cannot say “who art in heaven” if I am laying up no treasure there.
- I cannot say “hallowed be thy name” if I am not striving for holiness.
- I cannot say “thy Kingdom come” if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.
- I cannot say “thy will be done” if I am disobedient to his Word.
- I cannot say “on earth as it is in heaven” if I’ll not serve him here and now.
- I cannot say “give us this day our daily bread” if I am dishonest or am seeking things by subterfuge.
- I cannot say “forgive us our debts” if I harbor a grudge against anyone.
- I cannot say “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately place myself in its path.
- I cannot say “deliver us from evil” if I do not put on the whole armor of God.
- I cannot say “thine is the kingdom” if I do not give the King the loyalty due him from a faithful subject.
- I cannot attribute to him “the power” if I fear what men may do.
- I cannot ascribe to him “the glory” if I’m seeking honor only for myself, and I cannot say “forever” if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by time.
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A Message based upon
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
