Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
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Luke 11:1-13
1. He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2. And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3. Give us each day our daily bread; 4. and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." 5. And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6. for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7. and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9. And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12. or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
It seems a little odd that “The Lord’s Prayer” would bring me new insights. I’ve known it by heart since I was a child and repeat it each week in church—and for the most part I don’t think we really stop to reflect on exactly what the phrases mean. I’ve even taught a class on it with a friend; and it becomes rote recitation over time. But I was really attracted to the verses around the words of the prayer this morning!
Jesus made a habit of praying regularly and often. He knew inherently that he must do so to maintain his connection to his (and our) father. He encourages his disciples to pray with boldness. Not arrogance, but the boldness that comes from confidence that God gives us exactly what we need, when we need it. He desires what is best for us and we acknowledge that amazing, unconditional truth when we tell him “Thy kingdom come” the next line I learned expands upon this phrase to say “thy will be done.”
The examples Jesus uses illustrate the generosity and grace of God’s bounty to and for us. He wants us to share in his kingdom—in all the treasures of his creation! But we must be in tune with God to pray correctly. We are not to give God a laundry list of all the material things we desire, and then a checklist of all the hurts we want healed, and an accounting of all the ways we’ve been fine, upstanding Christians. He wants us to acknowledge that we are sinners, and rejoice that we are forgiven—over and over again, every time we sin—because of God's unending and unyielding mercy. We are to be grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ, who is our example of generosity and selfless sacrifice toward our fellow human beings.
We must also beg God to keep us from the evil in the world. It is so tempting to buy into the lies of advertisers and the power brokers and the unsaved! When we’re constantly exposed to immorality, corruption, dishonesty, blatant disregard for humanity or for the earth or for God, I think we sometimes slip and slide into a gray area, where we aren’t really comfortable, but, where we can toe the line of sin without really crossing it. That’s our contention, anyway! But Jesus told his disciples and reminds us that we must constantly go to God—ask him to keep us on the straight and narrow path—remembering that He is the source of all good things in our lives and in our world.
Finally, we are to use our spiritual gifts, and our talents and abilities to serve God. We do that by serving our brothers and sisters in this world. Selflessly, generously, with joyful abandon that God has gifted us so greatly and that he empowers us to use them so mightily in service to his kingdom.
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” I don’t know of any other place where you can get this kind of assurance! God is the source of all we need. And he is big enough, and strong enough, and wise enough, generous and full of grace and mercy. And he will never leave us to our own devices. He will never abandon us.
From now on when I begin this prayer, I’m going to try to remember all this. It really is a model, not only for prayer, but the proper attitude for living.
I hope you spend your day asking God for exactly what He knows you need. That you find what you are seeking and that the door to God’s love and understanding will be opened to you.
Mary
