“But deliver us from evil” Lord’s Prayer, Eighth Petition

In this life it seems an age-old question is: why do we have so much evil in the world and why does it always seem to get worse and worse? Habakkuk wrote some 2600 years ago, “How long, O Lord, must I cry for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to you ‘violence!’ but You do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrong?” (Hab 1:2-3). Whether it is the Babylonians of Habakkuk’s time or the financial crises, murders, disasters, and other evils of our time it is incredibly easy as humans to question God and His plan for us.

Of course, throughout the ages God’s answer is remarkably consistent. First, while He didn’t create evil in the world, He allows it to happen because He has a plan for the world that spans across all time. God tells Job, “Who is this who darkens My counsel with words without knowledge…Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.” (Job 38:2, 4). It is easy for us to condemn what God allows to happen in our short-sighted view of the world, but God has been in charge since He laid the earth’s foundation and will continue to be in charge until long after we are gone. He tells Habakkuk, “Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you are told.” (Hab. 1:5). It is clear that God knows exactly what He is doing without needing to consult with us.

Second, while evil seems to reign on earth, God is still in control and will deliver us. Even when it seems like He is letting us suffer, He promises “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). While we may have to suffer evil, God will give us the strength to deal with it and He promises that He will deliver us, even if it is as He calls us to heaven. Ultimately we are not promised a life free from evil on this earth, but in the promise of heaven we are assured that our strife will end and evil will not touch us. The promise made in Timothy is always one to remember: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Tim 2:18)

Glory to You, O Lord, Amen.

“Lead us not into temptation” Lord’s Prayer, Seventh Petition

Temptation – it’s all around us, isn’t it? Most of our modern advertising is centred around tempting us to purchase a product or service that we might not otherwise consider. The fashion industry relies on the appeal and temptation of the human body. Even our dear grandmothers, heaven bless them, are known to say, “Can I tempt you with another piece of cake, dear?”

Our culture responds to temptation in two ways. First, as with the above examples, temptation is trivialized as something affecting only the body and mind. After all, what harm is there in one more chocolate or glass of wine, or in a little casual flirtation at the office? Is it really so bad if the lyrics of our music, the necklines of our clothing, or our latest big purchase are a bit questionable? After all, we do draw the line somewhere – right? On the other hand, our culture also responds with the mantras of self-help and self-control. No temptation is so large that our advanced human intellect and will-power cannot control and overcome. This understanding results in a parade of perpetual slimming, debt counsellors, psychotherapists, and multitudes of self-help authors on every topic imaginable.

Now, don’t get me wrong, many of these modern institutions provide great blessings to our temptation-riddled world, and Scripture itself assures us that self-control is a God-pleasing attribute. But, neither trivialization nor the power of the human will provide the answers to temptation. This is because temptation is rooted deeper than the world can perceive : it is rooted in sin – in being our own spiritual masters, rather than servants of our Lord. Likewise, the outcomes of temptation are much more far-reaching than a thickening waistline or an angry burst of temper. Ultimately, temptation distances us from our loving Father and from one another. The root and the result of temptation are spiritual and have profound effects on our Christian faith.

We only have to skim Scripture to see the serious spiritual aspects of temptation: Satan tempts Eve to disobey the Lord in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3); Jesus is tempted for forty days in the desert (Matthew 4 and Luke 4); Judas, Peter and the other disciples are tempted to deny and betray Jesus (Matthew 26 and 27). Likewise, our Small Catechism asserts that the devil, the world, and our own sinful natures try to mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great sins.

Our own efforts to make light of or resist temptation are so easily overcome. But, Jesus’ efforts to resist temptation were successful. He withstood every temptation of His earthly life – even the temptation to avoid death, the grave, and the separation from His Father that awaited Him at the cross. Jesus is victorious over temptation on our behalf. Moreover, He does not just leave us with this knowledge as small comfort. In Luke 22, we see that Jesus prayed for Simon Peter when he was about to face the temptations to deny His Saviour. 1 Corinthians 10 assures us that God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear – He provides a way out so we can stand up under temptation. In His Word and Sacraments, and in the encouragement and counsel of our Christian brothers and sisters, Christ addresses the root and the result of our temptations just as surely as He did on the cross and in His prayers for His disciples. When we pray this petition of the Lord ’s Prayer – “lead us not into temptation” – we pray for these blessings that Christ has promised us, and assert our faith that He will faithfully provide them.

Jesus, we thank You that You did not give into temptation, even unto the cross. We pray that we would not be led into temptation but that we would walk in Your ways; to the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” Lord’s Prayer, Sixth Petition

We pray to the Father to “forgive us our trespasses” and our comfort is to know that we are forgiven our sins. Then it is up to us to “forgive those who trespass against us” and this is not so easy to always do in the way that we should.

Sometimes we believe in our hearts that a person has let us down badly, betrayed us or caused us a great injustice and deeply hurt our feelings, and it pains and worries us. The person causing us this concern could be a very close friend or even a blood relation and we should think and pray quickly otherwise we may lose their friendship forever or never see them again.

We should constantly remind ourselves that we too are not perfect and daily say and do the wrong things. Likewise for “those who trespass against us”, by daily praying the prayer that Jesus taught us, that anger is taken away and that prevents it turning to hatred.

Life after all never runs smoothly all of the time and the forgiveness that we pray in our hearts and minds will restore the peace and calm that we yearn for and need. Then and only then can we look forward and move on.

Thank You Lord for forgiving and forgiveness. Amen.

“Give us this day our daily bread” Lord’s Prayer, Fifth Petition

This interesting part of the Lord’s Prayer can mean many different things. On the one hand, it could simply be asking God to keep us fit and well, feeding our human existence with the required nutrition to live. On the other hand, as I’m more inclined to illustrate, it is referring to our moral and spiritual fibre, given to us through His word.

God’s Word could then be referred to in this way, as a user’s guide, an instruction booklet, assembly notes or a theory book. There are many parts, all with specific purpose, helping us to complete our life’s journey. In order to live our life correctly, or to gain some form of understanding of what we are doing, we first need to learn. God’s Word gives us this opportunity. It has many teachings and guides of what we should do, how we should do it and what to do when it all goes wrong. It feeds us full of information which, if used correctly, can give us a daily feeding of love, peace, mercy and hope.

As a new dad, I feed my daughter daily, not only with food, but with love, guidance and instruction. Through this part of the Lord’s Prayer, I believe God is reminding us to feed from Him daily. This is His way of helping us grow stronger through faith, healthier through love and give us comfort and happiness in what lies ahead.

My Father, make me Yours to dine with You now and for ever! Amen.

“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Lord’s Prayer, Fourth Petition

It was once pointed out to me that each of the petitions in the Lord’s Prayer was actually lived out by Jesus. He called God “Abba, Father”. He hallowed God’s name in everything He did. He personally ushered in God’s kingdom and rule. He is our daily bread, the bread of life. He forgave us our sins. He said no to temptation and He ultimately delivered us from evil.

And Jesus lived out this petition as well. He did God’s will. The High Priestly prayer in John 17 demonstrates that Jesus knew He had done everything the Father had asked Him to do. He had accomplished God’s will during His earthly ministry, and He was now going off to do God’s will by giving His life as a ransom for ours.

And that leads us to the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed that heart-wrenching prayer that the cup would be taken away from Him. The cup was God’s wrath over our sin, which Jesus was about to assume as His own. He did not want to suffer this separation from God, but He chose to do so because it was God’s will. Gods’ will was done, and Jesus was forsaken so that you and I never would be.

Because Jesus willingly submitted to God’s will to deliver us, we too can gladly now submit to God’s will. And God’s will is that we hallow His name and let His kingdom come among us.

I love Your kingdom Lord,
The place of Your abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
Amen.

(Timothy Dwight LSB 651 st. 1)

“Thy kingdom come” Lord’s Prayer, Third Petition

These three simple words are a ‘big ask’! We are asking God to bless His kingdom here on earth, the Church. In particular, we are asking that His Gospel may be preached in truth and purity throughout all the world, so that, through the power of His word and the Holy Spirit, we and all those in the kingdom may remain firm in our faith, and many more would hear and also believe.

We are asking that He would deliver us from the kingdom of the devil. And we are also praying that God’s kingdom would come to us in eternity when He accomplishes the final victory over all evil and sin, through the return of His Son as the Judge of the living and the dead.

What a priceless treasure we are asking for, then, with these three simple words! And yet we know that God gives more than we even dare to ask for. God’s work of salvation is already complete and we have received the gift of eternal life with Him in His kingdom, which has been won for us through the suffering, death and resurrection of His Son.

We pray in this petition for the day to come when it will become visible to all, when the Son of Man reveals himself as the King on the Last Day. Amen, come Lord Jesus!

O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
But hasten our salvation;
We often tremble on our way
In fear and tribulation.
O hear and grant our fervent plea:
Come, mighty judge, and set us free
From death and ev’ry evil.

Amen.

(Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, LSB 508)

“Hallowed be Thy name” Lord’s Prayer, Second Petition

The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer says that God’s name is holy and pure and we ask that it will always remain so in our hearts and minds.

How can we keep it so? Whatever we do or say in his name must always be true to the Bible and His commandments. This sounds rather easy, but it is not that easy in practice.

Keeping the Ten Commandments is impossible, but we must do our best overcome our human tendencies. Knowing what the Bible says and means, and communicating it accurately to others, is almost impossible, but we must try to learn His Word and share it accurately.

God knows we are weak and – if we are honest – pretty useless at times, but God loves someone who tries to do their best and even more so He loves a believer.

So if we believe in God and do our best to accurately share that belief with others, we are almost there. However, to share His Word accurately we must study the Bible to make sure we understand. If we need help, God has given us our Pastor and each other and of course, we can always go direct through prayer.

God’s name will always be “hallowed” if we share it with others and help them understand that salvation is there for us all, through His Son, Jesus Christ who paid the price for all of our sins.

Father God, we ask You to enable us to hallow Your Name, so we are part of the glorious spread of Your Gospel. Amen.

“Our Father, who art in heaven”. Lord’s Prayer, First Petition

This is the introduction to the Lord’s Prayer. Luther’s Small Catechism explains it with these words – “God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.” We pray to our true Father in heaven to ask for forgiveness, knowing that He will listen to our confessions of sins that we have committed. His door is always open. We know that He is our true Father in heaven and that He is loving and caring to His faithful children.

We thank You, our Father, that we can come to You, trusting in Your love and care. Amen.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

This verse illustrates the contrast between how man on earth perceives greatness, and what Jesus expects of us, in order to achieve greatness in His Kingdom.

On earth a person that is seen as great and mighty is someone at the top – someone who is served and looked up to; someone who can pay the ransom to release someone else from their debt.

However, Jesus proclaims that in His eyes it is the man that serves others that is considered great. Anyone who is prepared to help and love (serve) others will find the road to salvation – this, together with the knowledge that Jesus paid the ultimate price (ransom) for us, His death of a cross, will lead to salvation and eternal life.

Like the mighty man paid the ransom to release the slave from his debt, so Jesus paid the biggest ransom (His death) for our salvation, one that no-one on earth can pay themselves.

Dear Jesus – we thank You that You came into this world to pay the ultimate price on the cross for our salvation. Grant us the power and understanding to help and serve others on earth. Amen.

“He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation”. Colossians 1:22

In 1989 the Berlin wall came down. One of the girls in my class visited the site and brought back a piece of stone from that barrier, and her family were able to renew relationships with family in East Germany. Our relationship with God has been severed by a dividing wall of hostility; our sin, rebellion and apathy cut us off from the one true holy God. Those of us who trust in Christ’s atoning death for our salvation are in the privileged position of having that relationship restored. By God’s grace we have turned to Christ from our sins.

This reconciliation was costly – it cost Jesus His life. His blood was shed on the cross so that we might have peace with God (Col. 1:20). When Jesus lived on earth He was a real physical human being, yet perfect and sinless. Jesus paid the price for us, as 2 Corinthians 5:19 shows: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them.”

He took our sins in His own body on the tree (the cross). So this reconciliation is complete – we are presented holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
What should be our response? Firstly contrition, a deep repentance for all our wrong doings and selfish lack of doing, which causes damage to our relationship with God and with others. This involves a willingness to amend our ways and a desire to walk obediently with God.

Secondly compassion for all those who have not yet found their peace with God, and a desire to share the good news of salvation with them. “God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18.

Lord God, we thank You for Your work for and through us in this ministry of reconciliation. Amen.