Gathering Growing Going
The last Federal election was described as the ‘cost-of-living election’… but, to be truthful, every Federal election has this aspect—and we worry constantly about how to afford this, whether we can have that, where will this come from. And the first request of the Lord’s Prayer that ties directly to us confronts this head-on: we are dependent upon God for our daily needs, and our eternal future… and he never fails to provide what his people need to pursue his kingdom. In this sense, the order of the Lord’s Prayer flows naturally—it begins with an address that moves to the vision of God that we desire the world to see, and out of this we call for his rule and reign in our lives (and in this world) to begin… and, as we pursue our obedience to his rule and reign, we recognize that he gives all that we need to pursue that kingdom. It could be summarized in another, balder way: if the cost of living is so high (namely, Jesus), then our Father will certainly not neglect what we need to live...
What is your greatest desire for the year ahead (even for the day ahead)? This next verse in the Lord’s Prayer covers two requests that strike at the heart of our most fervent and deeply held desires—and state publicly that our desire as God’s people aligns with His desire for the world to be ruled rightly by His King! Coming straight after our request that the world know God’s name, this is a statement that we desire God to work obedience to His will, in our lives, as we live as the outpost of His kingdom in this world. Within this, there is an inherent tension that NOW, we are citizens of God’s kingdom and His King rules in our lives as God’s mob; but, NOT YET do we see the full consummation of this in all the universe. The temptation, then, is to either take matters into our own hands and create His kingdom here… or, to throw our hands up and give up, and pursue our own desires. Neither is a right or good expression of what these requests desire. Rather, as God answers our request here, He works the proclamation and practice of His kingdom in our lives, individually and corporately!
‘The vitality of prayer lies largely in the vision of God that prompts it. Drab thoughts of God make prayer dull’ (J.I. Packer, quoted in: K. DeYoung, The Lord’s Prayer., p.33-34) That quote is a striking and confronting observation by Packer—and it captures the immense vision of God that opens the Lord’s Prayer. The opening address of the Lord’s Prayer approaches God personally and immanently (‘our’), approaches God communally and relationally (‘Father’), approaches God in a Trinitarian recognition (He is our Father because of the work of His Son, and this is grown in us by the Spirit), approaches God recognizing His awesome transcendence (‘in heaven’). And this opening address leads to the natural first request: that the whole world know this God as the only God, the most significant person in all of creation in all of time (‘your name be honoured as holy’). That is NOT a drab vision or thought of God, is it!
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