Category — Relationship with God

So far, we’ve considered the context for the Lord’s Prayer in both Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts. We see from Matthew’s Gospel most clearly that Jesus’ intention for this prayer is that it serve as a model for prayer. Jesus said, “Pray like this….” Let’s take a closer look then, at each component of this model prayer.

“Our Father in heaven….” We begin by addressing God as “our Father.” He is the Father of us all from the viewpoint that He created us. We are His. (See Acts 17:24-31.) More specifically, God has called us into relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Through Christ we become His children; His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18). So we rightly and reverently address God as our Father. We look to Him for everything: love, protection, provision, and deep relationship. [Read more →]

In the last post, we began looking at the context of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel. We saw how the incident with Mary and Martha sets us up for a right attitude in prayer—to come humbly with the intent to listen to the Lord. Following the Lord’s Prayer, we find two parables. Jesus gave these parables to remind us about God’s character. As we come to him in prayer, we need to think rightly about him.

The first parable is about a man who has an urgent need late at night and who goes to his neighbor for help. But his neighbor refuses to help him with lame excuses. It’s important to realize that in that culture and day, it was unthinkable for this man not to help his friend. Jesus’ point is clear: God is not like this neighbor who feels inconvenienced by his friend. God cares deeply for us and will help us! Jesus assures us further with the words, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10) [Read more →]

Let’s continue our discussion of the Lord’s Prayer. In a previous blog, we looked at the context of Matthew’s account of this prayer. Now we’ll turn our attention to the context of Luke’s account. The Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel is flanked on the front end by an incident and on the tail end by two parables. The incident on the front end has to do with two women who had invited Jesus and his disciples to be their guests.

With all these men in the house, Martha was busy and distracted “with much serving.” Mary, however, was captivated by Jesus and the things he was teaching. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened intently to him. Mary’s sister, Martha became so angry at her sister for not helping her that she scolded Jesus for allowing Mary to sit there, while she (Martha) did all the work. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40) Jesus responded to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) [Read more →]

In Matthew 6 and Luke 11, we find the “Lord’s Prayer.” These appear to be two separate instances in which Jesus provided a model for prayer, which has come to be called “the Lord’s Prayer.” In the Matthew account, Jesus was teaching a large crowd along with his disciples. This occurrence belongs to what we call the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke’s account, Jesus had spent some time praying. When he finished, his disciples asked him to teach them to pray also. Let’s take a closer look at the context and content of the Lord’s Prayer.

The text of the two prayers is nearly identical. The fact that they are not exactly the same demonstrates that these are two separate incidents, and that Jesus’ intention for this model has more to do with the spirit of prayer than with the repetition of static words. [Read more →]

Lord Jesus, You are God, the One and Only; the beginning and the end. You were before all things and You created all things; by Your power all things exist. In You, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. You are all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. We worship You, humble ourselves before You, and give You all glory and honor and praise!
 
Lord Jesus, at Your appointed time You came to earth, humbling Yourself as Almighty God to become a helpless baby. You were tempted in every way, yet You did not sin. You lived a holy, righteous and blameless life. You accepted mockery, torture and a cruel death for our sakes. You died for us—for me—bearing our sin and shame! How can we thank You for taking our place? We praise You and worship You! [Read more →]

When Paul was being held prisoner in Caesarea under the rule of Governor Felix, Felix and his Jewish wife, Drusilla, would invite Paul to speak with them. We’re told that Felix “was well acquainted with the Way.” (Acts 24:22) The “Way” was a first-century term used to describe those who trusted Christ for salvation and lived their lives according to His ways, teaching and character.

On one occasion we read that Felix, “Sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’”  (Acts 24:24-25 NIV) [Read more →]

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Paraphrased excerpts from Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds.

“We are on a constant search for better methods, more clever plans, and new ways to organize in order to advance the church. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men and women. The church needs men and women whom the Holy Spirit can use—men and women of prayer—mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through people; people wholly yielded to Him.

The personal character of leaders has more to do with the revolution of nations than any other factor. The character and conduct of followers of Christ have more to do with the impact of the Gospel on a nation than any other factor. The individual makes the servant of the Gospel. God must make the individual. The individual, the whole individual, lies behind the work of God. Our work is not the performance of an hour; it is the outflow of a life. Our work for God must be a thing of life. Our work grows, because we grow. Our work is holy, because we are holy. [Read more →]

The Scripture is clear that followers of Christ obey Christ. In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

God’s Word also plainly distinguishes between the kind of obedience that was demanded of the Mosaic Law and the kind of obedience we strive for as followers of Christ. This distinction is crucial because many well-meaning Christians have merely exchanged the Old Testament set of laws for a New Testament set. This exchange is not God’s intent at all! [Read more →]

There are times when someone hurts us so severely or so repeatedly that we feel we cannot forgive them. We feel justified in not extending them forgiveness, because what they did was so awful, so despicable. If the offending person is our spouse, his or her cruel or thoughtless act may have been repeated so many times that we no longer trust them. We withhold forgiveness because if we do forgive them—again—we cannot trust that they won’t do this awful thing again.

Our forgiveness, however, cannot be based on trust or on the likeliness that the offender will not hurt us again. Instead, our forgiveness must be based on the character and example of God Himself. In three primary passages of the Scripture on forgiveness, every one of them draws attention to God’s character and His example of forgiving us. [Read more →]