Now Jesus was praying
in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them,
“When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be
your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us
our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us
not into temptation” (Lk 11:1–4).
Have you ever wondered why Jesus prayed? Jesus
and His Father are one… “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus
intentionally talked to Himself in prayer in the sight of His disciples. The
Holy Spirit inspired Luke to present this compelling illustration of Christ at
prayer for hungry disciples in every age as an example for us to follow too. Today
we note how Christ’s discipline of prayer moved at least one of His disciples to
ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray”. In His response, Jesus
exhorted them to acknowledge the holiness of God and then to ask Him to let “Your
kingdom come”. Then He taught His disciples to ask for God’s help, that
they might live the kingdom life here on earth and so become a part of the
answer to their prayer. Luke’s Holy Spirit inspired reflection on the Lord’s
Prayer reminds us that God promises to give us grace when we pray for and seek
to meet the requirements of kingdom living.
Determined disciples trust God to provide daily
bread. When we are born again we become children of God and citizens of His
kingdom… “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). As we grow and
mature in the faith we become more aware of the contrasts and contradictions
between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God… “My kingdom is
not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have
been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom
is not from the world” (John 18:36). Decreasing dependence on the world
and increasing trust in God’s provision are evidence that we are truly born
again and growing as disciples. We are learning that we can serve and trust
only one King to meet our needs… “No servant can serve two masters, for
either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13).
Choosing God’s kingdom is the right choice for today and tomorrow in the light
of Biblical revelation… “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation
11:15). Kingdom living relies on God’s faithful provision.
Diligent disciples trust God to forgive sin.
In this fallen world, everyone sins. Both believers and non-believers sin… “All
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The
difference is disciples believe Jesus paid for our sins and helps us to forgive
others who sin against us… “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you
have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). Kingdom living reflects the
forgiveness we’ve experienced in Christ to others.
Disciplined disciples trust God to deliver
from temptation. True disciples believe that Christ also empowers us to
overcome sin. The born again Christ follower does not willingly keep on sinning…
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning,
but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1
John 5:18). The Spirit of Christ in us makes us sensitive and resistant to
temptation so that we can overcome sin… “No temptation has overtaken you
that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted
beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of
escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Kingdom living results in increasing victory over temptation and sin.
As we grow up into Christ we learn how
faithful God is to answer prayer and empower us to meet…
The Requirements of Kingdom Living.
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