We continue our look at the revolutionary Lord's Prayer, taught to us by Jesus Christ in Matthew 6. This week, Tyler Jones takes us through the will of God, and forgiveness.
John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Supersubstantial
This is exceedingly absurd.
The term bread, in the Lord’s prayer, is a symbol for everything necessary for the preservation of this life—like food, a healthy body, good weather, house, home, wife, children good government and peace.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…
I could dismiss half my patients tomorrow if they could be assured of forgiveness.
Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church…The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and may my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God.
Reflection Questions
If there is an all-powerful, all-knowing God, how do things happen outside of His will? What is the will of God? Can we know it on any level? How might His will radically reorient your life?
Praying for our daily needs should be a thing that produces gratitude and provokes trust. Does your wealth or at least reasonable ease at survival bring thankfulness or thanklessness? If prayer is about trust, then what part(s) of your life are totally dependant on God’s provision?
Our debt is huge. We have shaken our fist at God, demanding our way while we eat at God’s table. In the midst of this debt, Jesus flippantly says “pray for forgiveness.” This is the gospel. This is Christianity. The work was done by Christ so shadow Him, believe in Him, follow Him. Spend some time asking the Lord to make this so.