Disciples follow Jesus’
call to pray the Lord’s Prayer
The last few weeks dealt with praying (as commanded) to the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into the harvest fields. This week we consider an actual prayer handed down from Jesus to His disciples as a way of communicating with God our Heavenly Father.
The prayer itself is in Mathew 6:7-15, our reading for Tuesday. You will find excerpts from an extended Lord’s Prayer throughout the week (but not in order). It was written by a friend of Hope’s, Revelations Jason Boetcher. The full prayer is included unbroken at the end.
Following Jesus as We Come 'n Go
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
~ God, (speaking through Jeremiah)
Pondering Point
These words from God through Jeremiah come as part of an explanation of dire circumstances at that time.
God’s people had been exiled; ugh! The preceding verses (29:11-12) are often quoted to bring hope to others in similarly dire situations – reminding them that things can be different:
Jeremiah 29:11-12
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Those plans include God’s people seeking Him with all their hearts, not half-heartedly as they had been doing in the past.
These verses used to haunt me for years, stirring thoughts like “you’ll never find God; when do ever seek Him with Your whole heart?” But I have come to realize that even though I still sin against God, my heart and spirit desire to know Him and follow Him. He knows that I am coming after Him in my heart and not merely going through the motions.
This brings me comfort that God will reveal Himself to me. As Paul teaches in Galatians 4:6:
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Ultimately God is found in the revelation of Jesus as God in the flesh. But God also reveals His truth in His Word (the Bible) and His Spirit who has taken up residence in our hearts to help us find God!
Prayer for the Day
Abba Father, thank You for the revelation of Yourself in Jesus Christ and for the gift of Your Holy Spirit into my heart. I love knowing that I am Your adopted child and can call upon You at any time. I love You Abba. Amen.
Praying the Lord's Prayer, part one
Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Today's Snippet of the Lord's Prayer
written by Revelations Jason Boetcher
Make us holy by Your name (John 16:16). Manifest Your holiness in our lives through the bestowing of Your saving name upon us in the waters of baptism (Matthew 28:19). Proclaim and confess the Apostles Creed. We receive Your holiness as a gift (Hebrews 2:11) with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2) here on earth as in the heavens.