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The perfect prayer from the perfect person
This prayer is so perfect that we refer to it as "The Lord's Prayer," even though it is not a prayer our Lord could pray perfectly, or completely. The sinless Christ needs no forgiveness of sins. However, he offered this perfect prayer as a perfect model for sinners striving to become perfect, mature, complete in Christ. The Lord's Prayer is not intended to be a ritual, although there is certainly nothing wrong with singing, reciting, or literally praying this prayer. The plural pronouns "our" and "us" demonstrate that this is a prayer to be prayed often as a community of worshippers. But the perfect prayer is primarily personal. It shows the Lord's way to pray for the person who takes faith seriously, who sincerely confesses Jesus as Lord. It shows the way to "be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect." It shows the way of "practicing your righteousness" rightly, not hypocritically. It shows the perfect way to pray, and your living will follow your praying, for better or worse. So if you want to know how to completely live for Christ, begin with the perfect prayer. Read Matthew 6:9-15. This week we shall look at part one of the prayer, with the next two parts given next week. The Greatness of God (vs. 9-10, 13b) The prayer's brevity and simplicity reminds me of another basic prayer, the first one we learn as children. It begins, "God is great, God is good." You know the rest, but I want to emphasis the first: "God is great." That's the essential meaning and message of "The Lord's Prayer." God has a great name. In fact it is so great, it is to be "hallowed," honored, feared and put first. God's name, which is a representation of his person, is to be spoken with holy reverence and supreme honor. He is not to be regarded as "the man upstairs" or "the big kahuna" or "my co-pilot." He is God, Jehovah, Jesus, the creator, lord of all. He is high above the heavens and so holy that there is a sense in which we should speak his name and then duck. God is great and is greatly to be feared, respected, honored, "hallowed." God is great and greatly to be known and loved. Jesus teaches us to address the high and holy God as "our father." This was a radical concept introduced at the inauguration of the new covenant. Old covenant Jews so feared the name of God that they would not even speak it or write it. But a pronounced feature of New Testament Christianity is that true believers get to call God "father," which could be even more accurately translated "daddy," in the perfect sense. God has a great kingdom. It is in heaven. It is coming to earth. In fact, through the power of kingdom praying and kingdom living, the kingdom exists upon the earth, right now. God's kingdom is in heaven. There is a heaven we all can see where clouds float and birds fly. There is a heaven only astronauts and satellite cameras have viewed up close. Then there is a heaven that only God, God's angels, and God's people get to see. It is a prepared place for a prepared people that right now we are not prepared to see, hear, or even imagine how great it is. But the perfect prayer helps prepare us. God's kingdom is on earth. God's kingdom truly exists wherever Jesus Christ is lord. It exists in the heart of a true Christian. It exists in the worship and fellowship of a genuine church. It exists wherever God's will triumphs over my or your will. God has a great will. And like his name and kingdom, great is the power and the paradox of the will of God. God's will is free, not forced. Like the Rolling Stones, God can truly say, "I'm free to do what I want any old time." No one can tell God what to do with his will. Prayer cannot be used to blackmail or manipulate God in any way, only to ascribe to God his greatness and offer the great plea, "Thy will be done." God's will is irresistible, not optional. Do you think the angels in heaven ever tell God, "No?" It's not that way on earth, however. But through the power of the perfect prayer it becomes that way, for Christians. How can we say "No, Lord?" Obedient praying leads to obedient living, for the person who is truly changed in prayer is the honest Christian who prays for God's will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven." Ultimately, it will.
So you see the greatest thing about this perfect prayer is its emphasis on the greatness of God. The words literally begin and end with God. Jesus knows that praying theocentrically will lead one into living a God-centered life. And the Lord knows that's what we need. Which will lead us to the second part of the perfect prayer next week.
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