Daily Devotion, July 12, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 11:1-4.

This week’s focus is to remind us to be continual learners of the ways of Christ and to pass along what we have learned to others. Vacation Bible School last month was great for this!

But this life of learning and passing along what we have learned isn’t reserved for one week out of the year! It’s the way we live every day.

Jesus truly understood this, and his disciples were eager to learn from him. They had observed and heard him praying. Luke’s gospel gives a great deal of emphasis to Jesus’ practice of prayer: times when he withdrew to desolate places to pray and prayer times before significant turning points in his ministry. So, the disciples simply asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray…”

Jesus gave them a simple yet profound prayer which we have come to know as “The Lord’s Prayer.” In Matthew 6:9-13, we find a very similar prayer. Some of the ancient manuscripts have additional phrases, such as we pray in our worship services, “For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen.”

I learn and understand something new about the way of Christ each time I pray this prayer. Jesus understood the depths of love of the relationship of God with humankind which he experienced in his life of prayer as he called God, “Father.” Jesus understands that God’s way of kingdom life is better than our way of kingdom life. Jesus offers a request for the simple daily necessities of life. Jesus understands our deepest need to be forgiven and gives the teaching moment that we also need to forgive others. And Jesus asks for God’s protection to lead us away from temptation.

Within this prayer and teaching moment of Jesus there are some deep understandings. God loves all of humankind deeply and listens to our prayers. We can trust God to provide and to lead and guide us through each step of life. God does forgive and calls us to forgive others. Jesus is following God’s way of kingdom life and Jesus calls us to follow in the same way.

Personal Worship Option:

Loving God, As I pray this prayer today, teach me new understandings about who you are and how to follow in your ways. “‘Father,’ hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us, and lead us not into temptation. Amen.”-Luke 11:1-4