Hallowed be Your Name… I had a discussion the other day about the “unforgivable sin.” One person said it really wasn’t scriptural; God forgives everything. Another person told how their church said certain sexual sins were unforgivable; premarital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, and the like. But most said they weren’t sure […] Read more
Prayer
Our Father in Heaven…
Our Father in Heaven… Jesus told us to pray to Our Father in Heaven, not our earthly father. This important distinction needs to be addressed because many have had horrible-no-good-very-bad-fathers; and they are the only sort of father we can imagine. But even those who have had good fathers still […] Read more
Pray then like this…
Now that Jesus has gotten some qualifications out of the way—not to pray like the hypocrites; not to pray like the Gentiles—he finally begins to tell his disciples how to pray. He finally gives to us…wait for it…ta-dum…THE LORD’S PRAYER! I’m sure some of you think I am being a […] Read more
And when you pray…
And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Jesus’ first words in Matthew 6 about prayer […] Read more
And he said to them…
And he said to them, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when […] Read more
Lord teach us to pray…
…and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Jesus was asked to heal the blind, the deaf, the mute; he was asked to raise the lame and the dead. He was asked about the prophets and the […] Read more
…and when he finished…
…and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Whenever I’ve thought about Jesus praying I’ve pictured him in a solitary location—a place out of sight from his disciples—but I’m not so sure that’s an entirely accurate picture. […] Read more
…in a certain place.
“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place.” The use of the word “certain” has always seemed a bit odd to me. In other passages in the Gospels, the writers mention the locations where Jesus prayed. They tell us he prayed in the mountains, he prayed in fields, he prayed […] Read more
Now Jesus was praying…
You might think a discussion on the Lord’s Prayer should begin with the Lord’s Prayer, but to understand Jesus’ teaching on prayer I think we need to start a few verses prior to the words “Our Father…” The Gospels provide two occasions when Jesus spoke about the Lord’s Prayer to […] Read more
Introductory Thoughts on Prayer
For many years I’ve found myself between the desire to have the freedom to do and say what I want, and the knowledge that I seem to make better choices when a path is laid out in front of me. I’ve often thought these two seemingly contrary urges to irreconcilable, […] Read more