The Lord’s Prayer (Part 1)

Luke records that when Jesus “was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). Jesus responded by giving them a pattern in what we have come to know as “the Lord’s prayer” (see Luke 11:2-4). This prayer or portions of it are found everywhere on wall plaques, murals, key chains, desktop figurines, obituary notices, and many other venues. Its familiarity may even have desensitized us to its true teaching. We need to pause as we hear our Lord’s words to reflect on his  example.

His prayer opens with “Our Father which art in heaven.” For the child of God to begin with “our Father” is quite natural. Paul reminded the Galatian believers that “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). Not everyone has the right to call God “our Father,” only those who have become related to him through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah] is born of God (I John 5:1). Believing on Jesus as Savior and Lord is the only means of becoming a member in God’s family and rightly owning him as “our Father.”

Jesus goes on to pray to our Father “which art in heaven.” The Psalmist relates “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men” (Psalm 11:4). We are reminded that when we pray to the Father, we pray to the ruler of all. What a privilege is ours! What reverence is warranted!

“Hallowed be thy name.” The word “hallowed” means to treat as holy, set apart. God is absolutely holy, even his very name. Isaiah recorded “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). It is beyond our understanding to recognize that this holy God makes it possible for sinners like us to dwell with him and own him as our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ!

“Thy kingdom come.” Ultimately the kingdom in view here is the kingdom that Jesus Christ himself establishes when he returns. Then “the kingdoms of this world [are] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Until that time the kingdom is a spiritual kingdom comprised of every soul who submits to the gospel of Christ and follows him.

“Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” The Scriptures tell us that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11; emphasis added) and that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). That being so, our prayer takes the shape of submitting to his will in all matters; our petitions couched in his sovereign care and eternal purpose. Take a fresh look at our Lord’s response to his disciples in this matter of prayer and may your own prayer life be enriched.

Having acknowledged the sovereignty of God and expressing desire to allow that will to govern his own life, the petitioner expresses his dependence upon the Lord. “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). It is a simple yet profound expression of reliance by the creature upon the Creator that contemplates two concepts. The first is the matter of daily bread, which constitutes not just food, but all that is needed to serve God and fulfill his purpose for the day at hand. The Lord used the most basic necessity for living to exemplify all that we need, food, housing, raiment, strength, etc.

The second concept recognizes that this reliance is necessarily “day by day.” Every day is different from the one preceding it and, consequently, the needs for each new day vary. God supplies them all and He invites us to look to Him daily in prayer for that supply.

It is easy to lose sight of God’s daily provision. We buy enough groceries to last several days at a time, our closets are full of clothing, and our credit cards stand ready to meet every need and desire. These things all have a way of diminishing the recognition of our daily dependence upon God. But God reminded Israel as they were about to enter Canaan “thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

We are so self-centered that we seldom take stock of the blessing of God’s provision. Yet He is the one who endowed us with talents and abilities that we employ for our welfare. As Paul reminded the Corinthians “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (I Corinthians 4:7). God’s leading and favor is in all of our advancements. Have you ever wondered why the job you have went to you and not a different candidate who was equally qualified?

Our lives are consumed with building things, acquiring things, and caring for things. Yet God shows himself strong in that he provides timely sales that meet our needs, neighbors and friends to help in our expansions and repairs, and “unexpected” provisions along our way. He keeps older cars running, roofs from leaking, and shoes from wearing out.

Finally, He gives us our health. Sin’s effects on the earth has brought its curse upon our lives. Sickness is part of that curse as well as the demanding character of work. Yet God gives health and strength to work and blesses our labors with fruitfulness.

Do you acknowledge your daily need of God’s care and provision? Furthermore, do you give thanks to God for meeting your needs? The Psalmist wrote “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16).

More to come…

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Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.