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by Sandy Shaw
When we read these words of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 6 regarding prayer, what are these claims which God the Father has upon His children?
He expects Reverence – Co-operation – and willing Submission. It is there so simply.
Jesus moves on to what the children can claim from their Father.
Some do think that God is not really interested – that He is too big or too busy – too much to do – and we are not that important – or we are not fit to come to Him or that somehow He is not able to help. We might not always put it like that, but that can be lurking behind some people’s thinking.
Give us today our daily bread. In essence that means give us the essential and necessary provision enough for the next 24 hours. We are not praying about tomorrow dear God, just because we are not going to pray tomorrow, so give us today. It is a prayer for sustenance to see us through the day.
With the shelves in our shops and stores heaving with food, this may not be a very serious matter, but where I have visited in Kenya, teaching over these past eight years, we see it from a very different perspective and that was nearer to the situation of Jesus’ day.
Come and ask specifically for support and provision. It is daily prayer for a daily walk with God.
It is a realistic prayer.
Nor is it - Thank You for yesterday’s supplies, because we will spin it out for today!
When we come to these words on forgiveness, there is almost a realising of brokenness when we pray for forgiveness.
There can be no hardness, nor harshness, towards others if we ourselves come to almighty God, in need for forgiveness.
We come in need in repentance and in humility. There is a seriousness.
Just give me the bread for today – no, there is more than that – we need the forgiveness too.
Provision – and Forgiveness – and now Protection. We need to be protected from the evil one – all down through the path of life.
Do not let us be so tempted that we will be overwhelmed.
Deliver us from the one who would infect us with his evil and rip Your Truth from our minds.
Deliver us from the one who is out to destroy us.
The best thing to do with the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is to pray it.
I used the phrase Lord’ Prayer’. This of course, is not the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. We have that in John Chapter 17. Jesus would never have to pray for forgiveness! This is the disciple’s prayer.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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