No 7

(The Lord’s Prayer)

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven….” Matthew 6 : 9 to 13.

This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence, with the spirit of adoption, “Our Father.” There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, “I will arise, and go unto my Father.” This child-like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father: “in heaven,” and ascends to devout adoration: “Hallowed be thy name”, from the child crying: “Abba, Father” (Gal 4:6) to the uttering of the seraphim crying: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” (Isaiah 6:3). “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” – summarises the extent and the duration of God’s reign. Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Being further illuminated by the Spirit, we discover that we are not only dependent but sinful therefore we beg for mercy, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:” Being pardoned having the righteousness of Christ imputed and knowing our acceptance with God, we humbly request for perseverance: “Lead us not into temptation.”

The man, who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. “Forgive us our debts,” is justification; “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” is sanctification in its negative and positive forms. As the result of all this, this prayer follows with a triumphant statement of praise: “Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.”

We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and will reign in grace from the river even to the ends of the earth and of His dominion “…there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:7) . Thus from a sense of adoption up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. “Lord, teach us thus to pray…” Luke 11:1.