Teaching Of The Lord's Prayer
|
The words to the Lord's prayer are familiar to millions of Christians and even non Christians all over the world. Jesus spoke the words to the Lords prayer while preaching the famous sermon on the mount. The purpose of the words to the Lord's prayer was to example how people should pray, not that the exact words of this supplication are to be repeated word for word. In fact, just a few verses prior to where this supplication is found, Jesus said that Christians should not pray like the heathen do, repeating a lot of words, thinking they will be heard due to their "much speaking". Rather, Jesus wants us to pattern our supplications after him. When praying, Jesus provided an example to the disciples. The words to the Lord's prayer is useful for any age.
"Our Father who art in Heaven", addresses the God of the universe, recognizing who He is and where God's throne sits. "Hallowed be thy name". Hallowed means holy. Christians recognize that God is holy, and are careful to reverence the Lord's name and not take it in vain. "Thy kingdom come" is a yearning that all who are in the Lord have, that God's kingdom would come back soon to the Earth. This is the culmination of man's existence. "Thy will be done", means we do not seek our own will, but that of our Father in heaven. "On earth as it is in heaven", references back to God's will. While Christians should not seek their own will, the desire is for God's will to be done on earth, and Christians seek to be the instruments for carrying out the will of God, according to the direction of the Holy Spirit. "Give us this day our daily bread" demonstrates we should state requests for only what we need, not our wants. God already knows what we need; he just wants us to voice to our needs so that we remember who provides them. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" is talking about forgiveness. God forgives us of our sins if we come and repent of them. In the same way, when our brother or sister in Christ comes to us asking for forgiveness, we are to forgive them because God has forgiven us of our sins. Jesus commands us to do this, or God will not hear us. This supplication is found in the New Testament: Matthew 6:9-15.
"For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever" teach us to recognize who is in control in our lives. God is our Lord, our God, our Creator, and He is the one that directs our lives, not us. Teaching of the Lords prayer demonstrates that man is not his own god. Note how this prayer is totally non-selfish, but addresses who God is and mentions praise for the Lord's holiness. Christians should be outward focused, reaching out to others as Christ reached out to save the lost. Teaching of the Lords Prayer can help young Christians understand how to pattern their own prayers, and refrain from making supplication into a session for asking for wants. Deconstructing the words to the Lords prayer as we have here gives special attention and meaning and helps others to understand each part.
In teaching of the Lords Prayer to children, memory is assisted when words are put into song. Music is a wonderful tool to help anybody, not just children, to remember things because music sticks in our minds better than dry recitations. Perhaps hand and arm motions can be created that go along with each phrase of the supplication. The children can perform these motions when reciting the words. This would be a great demonstration or teaching of the Lords prayer during a children's church service. This shows a way for children to praise God in a kind of dance rather than in song. No matter how praying is done, Jesus wanted the disciples to learn how to make supplication when they asked him to teach them. So we should teach praying to others as well.
When people first begin to learn how to make supplication, often they do not know how to begin. The teaching of the Lords Prayer words makes praying easier, and opens the door to understanding praying. Having a friend repeat the words with others helps to reinforce memory, and creates a safe environment when several people are involved. There will be less of a chance of anyone noticing when just one person makes an error. Adults joining in corporate worship regularly recite the Lords Prayer during the main worship service. This has been in practice for centuries.
Jesus prayed regularly to His father, because this was a personal intimate conversation. God wants us to converse with him and praying is the venue of communication. The Lord often went aside to spend time in supplication, and the disciples had to wait. Perhaps they learned a little, but apparently not enough, because they eventually asked Jesus to teach them how to perform supplication. Consequently we now know and understand the words to the Lord's Prayer as our example. Jesus also prayed by himself in a private place. This is a reason why the disciples could not observe Jesus' praying very much, or hear it. Jesus told the people during the Sermon on the Mount to refrain from praying the way the heathen do, drawing a lot of attention to them because it helped them feel self-important and righteous. Rather Jesus taught to go to a place alone and offer prayers to God. God rewards people who supplicate in secret because supplication is offered in humility. The Lord looks on the heart of those who want to follow. Teaching of the Lord's Prayer to others is an excellent example of how to pray humbly. Teaching of the Lord's prayer needs to take place not only in the main church service, but also in other activities of the church, even at social events.
|
|
|
|
