The Lord’s Prayer
A Meditation
by Rob Shaver
Our Father…
…possessing all the best qualities of a father, perfect as a father. Our images of God are strongly shaped by our fathers. But our fathers – and we who are fathers – are flawed and imperfect, so that we often have – and often give – a wrong idea of who God is. Help us to understand what it means to call you ‘Our Father’ in all its perfection. You give us life, protect us, provide for our needs, teach us, and guide us, as a father should. You love us.
Who art in heaven…
…as distinguished from our earthly fathers. You are our king, and the creator of heaven and earth, yet Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father.” We can approach you, the king of all creation, the high king of heaven, as our father because you have adopted us into your family and have made us your sons, with the rights and privileges thereof. We have great freedom and great responsibility. We do not serve you as slaves. Rather, as sons of the most high king who reigns over this world, our interests are your interests. What you want is what we want. We are your emissaries to the lost of this world.
Hallowed be Thy name…
…sacred, revered, adored, honored, most precious, is your name to us. Our salvation was bought with the sacrifice of your only begotten son, and so we honor you and hold you in the highest esteem. May we never bring shame to your name, by which we are known.
Thy kingdom come…
Much like Simeon, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel when Jesus was born, so we look forward to the day – and we pray for it – when your kingdom will come to the earth, when all people will acknowledge you as their king, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
In heaven all is as it should be because your will is done. Here on earth we disobey, we are stubborn and arrogant, we think we know best, and the results are evident. Our willfulness leads to suffering. We long to live in a kingdom where your will – your good, pleasing, and perfect will – prevails, to the blessing and delight of all.
Give us this day our daily bread…
You know what we need before we ask for it, yet Jesus instructs us to ask you for it anyway. We entrust ourselves to you for today’s needs, and we will entrust ourselves to your keeping again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. We look to you to provide for us today and you do not fail.
And forgive us our debts…
Is it ‘debts,’ ‘trespasses,’ or ‘sins’? ‘Debts’ implies that something is owed, and certainly that is true. For the wages of sin is death, and we are surely sinners. But you, Dear God, sent your only son to pay that debt, to redeem us from death and give us life, for which we owe you everything.
‘Trespasses’ implies violation, a line which has been crossed. By disobeying your word, we have crossed over from right to wrong, trespassing against you. Certainly, Adam and Eve went where they were not supposed to go when they took and ate the forbidden fruit. They had been given all the fruit of the garden except the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, the one line they were not to cross.
Likewise, ‘sins’ implies a wrong has been done, a rule has been broken, and so again, we are guilty. We are sinful from birth and need your forgiveness.
No matter which word we pray, it’s clear that we stand condemned and need your forgiveness, for which we pray, and which we receive with gratitude and confidence.
As we forgive our debtors…
What right have we to refuse forgiveness to those who have wronged us when we have received forgiveness from you, who owes us nothing? Help us, Lord, to follow your example of grace and mercy, forgiving as we have been forgiven.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
Lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. We are weak and prone to disappoint you. Protect us from Satan and from our own sinful desires, because we can’t live a holy and pleasing life without your help. We have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness where we were slaves of the Evil One. We are now your subjects in the kingdom of light. Help us to shine as a beacon of hope that will lead others from darkness to light.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever…
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
“O that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!”
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
A Meditation
Rob Shaver
Our Father…
…possessing all the best qualities of a father, perfect as a father. Our images of God are strongly shaped by our fathers. But our fathers – and we who are fathers – are flawed and imperfect, so that we often have – and often give – a wrong idea of who God is. Help us to understand what it means to call you ‘Our Father’ in all its perfection. You give us life, protect us, provide for our needs, teach us, and guide us, as a father should. You love us.
Who art in heaven…
…as distinguished from our earthly fathers. You are our king, and the creator of heaven and earth, yet Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father.” We can approach you, the king of all creation, the high king of heaven, as our father because you have adopted us into your family and have made us your sons, with the rights and privileges thereof. We have great freedom and great responsibility. We do not serve you as slaves. Rather, as sons of the most high king who reigns over this world, our interests are your interests. What you want is what we want. We are your emissaries to the lost of this world.
Hallowed be Thy name…
…sacred, revered, adored, honored, most precious, is your name to us. Our salvation was bought with the sacrifice of your only begotten son, and so we honor you and hold you in the highest esteem. May we never bring shame to your name, by which we are known.
Thy kingdom come…
Much like Simeon, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel when Jesus was born, so we look forward to the day – and we pray for it – when your kingdom will come to the earth, when all people will acknowledge you as their king, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
In heaven all is as it should be because your will is done. Here on earth we disobey, we are stubborn and arrogant, we think we know best, and the results are evident. Our willfulness leads to suffering. We long to live in a kingdom where your will – your good, pleasing, and perfect will – prevails, to the blessing and delight of all.
Give us this day our daily bread…
You know what we need before we ask for it, yet Jesus instructs us to ask you for it anyway. We entrust ourselves to you for today’s needs, and we will entrust ourselves to your keeping again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. We look to you to provide for us today and you do not fail.
And forgive us our debts…
Is it ‘debts,’ ‘trespasses,’ or ‘sins’? ‘Debts’ implies that something is owed, and certainly that is true. For the wages of sin is death, and we are surely sinners. But you, Dear God, sent your only son to pay that debt, to redeem us from death and give us life, for which we owe you everything.
‘Trespasses’ implies violation, a line which has been crossed. By disobeying your word, we have crossed over from right to wrong, trespassing against you. Certainly, Adam and Eve went where they were not supposed to go when they took and ate the forbidden fruit. They had been given all the fruit of the garden except the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, the one line they were not to cross.
Likewise, ‘sins’ implies a wrong has been done, a rule has been broken, and so again, we are guilty. We are sinful from birth and need your forgiveness.
No matter which word we pray, it’s clear that we stand condemned and need your forgiveness, for which we pray, and which we receive with gratitude and confidence.
As we forgive our debtors…
What right have we to refuse forgiveness to those who have wronged us when we have received forgiveness from you, who owes us nothing? Help us, Lord, to follow your example of grace and mercy, forgiving as we have been forgiven.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
Lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. We are weak and prone to disappoint you. Protect us from Satan and from our own sinful desires, because we can’t live a holy and pleasing life without your help. We have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness where we were slaves of the Evil One. We are now your subjects in the kingdom of light. Help us to shine as a beacon of hope that will lead others from darkness to light.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever…
“All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
“O that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!”
Amen.
