January 9th, 2008
Seeking to Know
You know all those questionnaires that go around asking information about people? Well, here’s a couple of my answers:
Favorite book: Gone with the Wind
Favorite food: dark chocolate
Favorite Trip: Israel or Europe
Favorite animal: NONE!
Now you know a little more about me, but do you actually know me? We cannot actually know a person until we spend time with her, understand how she’s wired, hear the heart behind the stories. So, from the earlier “Favorites” you may know a little more about me, but not actually understand me any better.
That’s how I began feeling about the New Testament a couple of months ago. I know many of the stories, but do I understand the heart behind the stories? And so, I decided this year to spend the year reading through the New Testament (using a book we sell through Walk Thru the Bible). Because the amount of reading is much less than last year’s “through the entire Bible in a year”, the depth of reading will hopefully increase.
A few days ago I read Matthew 6 which includes the VERY familiar Lord’s Prayer. However, in my quest to actually “hear” what it was saying rather than just gain information, I slowed down and thought about the phrases. I decided to write some of them here. Disclaimer: I raise questions with no answers. I’m fine with that – I hope you are too. Also, obviously we’ve studied this prayer in Summer Sunday School and I’ve read other things on it, so my thoughts probably reek of other’s insights that are becoming fresh to me. I also don’t claim that everything I am thinking is always correct – I am just processing information!
Before we start, I suggest that you stop and pray that God would show you what he wants to teach you about this prayer that Jesus said. Now join me in some questions and thoughts…
“Our”
This is a communal prayer. So often we “go in our closet” as we are commanded to do when we pray and disregard the need for a community gathering together to entreat our Father.
“Father”
All the good without the bad! Usually I think of my dad’s qualities and compare them to God’s (either good or bad), but when I read this I began adding on Tim’s qualities and appreciating God’s goodness, love and desire for his children in a different way.
“in heaven”
Where is heaven? Is it another dimension? What is it like? We know God is actually in a place – he’s not just a roaming spirit looking down at his creation.
“hallowed be your name”
God is holy. What does it mean “name”? It’s his name that’s holy? Is that the way Jesus sums up all the attributes of all the names God has (Elohim, Yahweh, Adonai…) and saying that the sum of all of them makes this holy, set-apart God?
“your kingdom come”
I often look forward to heaven and the second coming of Christ, but do I actually pray that it will happen soon?
“your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
God’s will is done in heaven. No one argues. No one thinks twice. God says it, everyone obeys it (people still have to obey in heaven?).
“Give us today our daily bread”
Not, help me pay for my kids college in 8 years, or please provide for my retirement in ? years. I don’t think it is bad to ask God for future needs, and we should be wise about them, but we should not be awake at night fretting over them. In fact, this prayer focuses on TODAY, and it asks for bread. Not brownies, not maple syrup or steak. Bread – the basic and necessary.
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”
Who am I upset with? Has anyone offended me? Have I complained about anyone in the last 24 hours?
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Lead us. Guide us. Take me by the hand and walk me where there will be no temptation to turn from you. When evil does come, I am depending on you, God, to do the fighting and deliver me safely back on the walk with you.
Amen.