And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…(Matthew 6:13)
The path never leads toward temptation.
The path leads away from temptation.
You just happen to be facing the wrong way.
Turn around, Beloved.
Happy Monday
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Forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us (Matthew 6:12).
Your translation might say “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” but I like this version, and it’s my blog, so…
I’m actually pretty good at forgiveness. When someone asks my pardon, I generally give it readily and fully. That’s not because I am Super Saint. It’s just that I remember this verse.
And I see that little word as.
See, the line reads, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive…”
In other words, we are asking that the Father forgive us in the same way that we forgive others.
Well, I want to be forgiven fully and freely and immediately and thoroughly.
So…
Mercenary? Perhaps…but there you go.
Walk in forgiveness today, Beloved.
Happy Friday.
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
Just enough to get me through the day.
Not too much, or I might get prideful.
Not too little, or I might not make it at all.
Just…enough.
How about a deal, Lord?
I’ll trust that you know how much I need, and you…
remind me that you know what “enough” looks like.
Happy Thursday, Beloved.
…your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
I think the hardest part of the whole living for God thing can be found in this verse. Because God doesn’t always listen to my design input as he formulates his will, and frankly that annoys me.
But here’s something to chew on, Beloved: Heaven is all about God’s will. So, if we can’t learn to say, “Your will be done” here, well…our first few weeks of eternity might get a little crunchy.
Of course, that may be part of why we’re here in the first place: to learn to say, “Your will be done” and mean it with our whole everything.
I can’t do it
Yet.
But someday…
Happy Wednesday, Beloved.
…hallowed be your name…(Matthew 6:9)
Hallowed
You know, like holy.
The Jews were so intense when it came to the holiness of God that they wouldn’t even utter the name YAHWEH. They considered it blasphemy. I remember as a kid being told not to “take the Lord’s name in vain.” I didn’t really get what “in vain” meant, but I figured that God’s name was special and only to be used in prayer.
These days, we seem to be past all that. Our society uses God’s name all the time–and not always in prayer.
Not often in prayer.
Beloved, perhaps today is a good day to remind ourselves that God is not like us. I mean, we are made in his image, and Jesus became flesh and lived among us, but ultimately…he is different.
He is separate.
He is holy.
There is a purity and a majesty and a power in God that caused everyone who ever came into his presence to fall on their faces. Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips!” God appears to people as an angel, or as fire, or as tempest, because God in his true glory would crisp them.
So, while God is our loving Father
He is also
Almighty God.
Walk in reverence today.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven…(Matthew 6:9)
Not Mighty God
Not Lord of the Universe
Not Holy One
Not Creator
Not Sustainer
Not Giver and Taker of Life
Not Commander of the Heavenly Host
Even though all those names are true
Father
When Jesus taught his followers to pray, he started with Father.
And so should we.
Happy Monday, Beloved
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:7-8).
Shhhhh.
Talk less.
Listen more.
Happy Friday, Beloved
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:5-6).
You know how the prayers you speak in public are different from the ones you say in private?
Yeah…that’s a problem. It’s not supposed to be that way.
When we’re in public, too often we pray to impress. We use our best theological words–sometimes incorrectly–and an impressively earnest tone of voice. We don’t want God–or anybody else–to forget who we’re talking to, so we use His name in every sentence:
“Oh Lord, we just come to you Jesus to tell you God that we just, we just love you Lord Jesus, and we just thank you, Lord God, for your sanctimoniosity, Lord…”
We also say, “Just” a lot, though I’ve never figured out why.
The point is, you probably don’t pray that way when you’re alone with Jesus. Then, you let it all spill out, raw and honest, not worried about how you sound because you know He understands.
That’s the prayer he’s looking for.
No, Beloved, I’m not saying that your public prayers should be rambling and random
just that they should be
real.
Happy Thursday, Beloved.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who knows what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:2-4).
Have you ever given an anonymous gift?
It’s a rush.
It’s like Secret Santa on steroids.
At first you enjoy the thrill of being supersneakyspyguy. You cover your tracks like a CIA operative. You make sure that there is nothing in the gift or delivery of said gift that can be traced back to you. Even the “God Bless You” note is typed in Times New Roman font and printed after-hours at the local library. You exult in the fact that nobody knows who gave that fabulous gift, nobody knows who did that tremendous thing.
Then it hits you–Nobody knows who gave that fabulous gift.
Nobody knows who did that tremendous thing.
There are absolutely no bragging rights.
And that, Beloved, is the moment when you discover if you are giving for God’s glory…
or yours.
Give well, Beloved.
Happy Wednesday
Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
Don’t be a poser.
I know, sometimes that’s easier said than done. We live in a society that judges you by your social media posts. It can be difficult to pass up the opportunity to let your friends know how giving and loving and tender-hearted and generous and basically amazing you are. We want 1000 likes and comments of, “Wow! You’re so awesome! I wanna be like you!” Who doesn’t need a pat on the back from time to time?
But, when it comes down to it–and it always does come down to it– which would you prefer–an “attaboy” from your peers, or one from, you know, the Lord of the Universe?
Thought so.
So, again,
Don’t be a poser.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.