…deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Many versions of the Lord’s Prayer end with the words, “deliver us from evil.” But some manuscripts continue with the words, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” I’m not certain which version… Continue reading Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory Forever.
Category: The Lord’s Prayer
Lead us not into Temptation…
Lead us not into temptation… I’ve always found this portion of Jesus’s prayer challenging as I never thought the Father would lead us into temptation. In James, we read, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no… Continue reading Lead us not into Temptation…
Forgive us our debts, as we ourselves forgive…
Forgive us our debtsas we also have forgiven our debtors… I think forgiveness is the centerpiece of Christian belief. Humanity, in the hands of Adam and Eve, fell into sin thus condemning us all to death. And just as Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden and covered their nakedness with leaves, we… Continue reading Forgive us our debts, as we ourselves forgive…
Give us This Day our Daily Bread…
Give us this day our daily bread… When I come to this portion of the prayer, I think of Exodus and God raining down bread upon the Israelites. The Israelites had been complaining that they had nothing to eat so God said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you,… Continue reading Give us This Day our Daily Bread…
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Your kingdom come,Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven. Jesus tells us that we should pray that God’s kingdom on earth would look like God’s kingdom in heaven. He tells us to pray that God’s will should be done on earth in the same way that God’s will is done in heaven.… Continue reading On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Your Will be Done…
Your will be done… One of the most asked questions I heard when I taught Bible classes was how we know the will of God. Somewhere along the line, the students had been told, or they had reasoned, that the will of God had primarily to do with the path their lives would take. God’s… Continue reading Your Will be Done…
Your Kingdom Come…
Your kingdom come… The British Empire, The Roman Empire, The Spanish Empire, The Russian Empire, The Caliphates, Chinese Dynasties, Mongols, Aztecs, Greeks, Macedonians, Egyptians, Mayans, Babylonians, Huns, Assyrians, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Michael Jackson. These all have at least two things in common; first, they ruled or attempted to rule, the world.… Continue reading Your Kingdom Come…
Hallowed be Thy Name…
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 what it was or if… Continue reading Hallowed be Thy Name…
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 have an inadequate view of… Continue reading Our Father in Heaven…
Our Father…
Our Father… Luke’s genealogy of Jesus begins by saying Jesus was thought to be the son of Joseph and concludes by saying he was the son of God. The first record we have of Jesus’ speaking is in his twelfth year when he replies to Joseph and Mary who were upset by his staying in… Continue reading Our Father…