Daily Bread 2011 - Matthew 6
Daily Bread Together – Monday – Matthew 6
Verse of the Day 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
What Does This Mean? As we continue in Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus describes what life in the kingdom looks like. He teaches on three spiritual disciplines that the Jewish community would have been familiar with, but he adds a twist to re-define how they can be practiced. As he re-imagines what it means to give, pray and fast; it seems as though these disciplines have been distorted in the community. Importantly, in each example, he emphasizes that they should not be done to draw attention to one self.
There is always the temptation for pride to set in, as we begin to do the things Jesus did to place himself in a position to bring God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. And then, in the verses above, Jesus gives us a model for praying. Notice the simple structure, and the six distinct petitions.
The first three have to do with God. Our prayer should start with a focus on who God is. They have to do with where God is (heaven), his holiness (hallowed be thy name), and His purpose (thy will be done). After we have put God in the proper perspective, we can ask for what we need (not what we want!).
And what do we need to most? Daily bread in the form of daily provisions like: food, water, work, family, and other relationships. Forgiveness for our sin, which keeps us in a good relationship with God. And finally, deliverance from the temptations of the evil one!
What Does This Mean For Us? As we seek to participate in the kingdom kind of like Jesus describes in the Sermon on the Mount, prayer is a key discipline. Prayer puts us in a place to have a proper perspective about what is really important in life. As we pray we remain dependent on God for daily decision making and daily provision. Prayer also keeps us discerning and aware of temptation to veer from God’s way of doing things and taking back control of life ourselves.
How is your prayer life? Probably one of the most helpful New Year’s resolutions you could make in 2011 is to seek to have a consistent prayer life using the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Consider starting a prayer journal, and use the simple six petitions as a guide adding your personal touch to each petition as the Spirit leads.
Jesus, thank you for prayer, where we can communicate to our Heavenly Father through you. Help us to make time each day to praise and make our requests known to you in the power of Your Holy Spirit who intercedes for us as we pray in Your name, Amen.
Verse of the Day 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
What Does This Mean? As we continue in Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus describes what life in the kingdom looks like. He teaches on three spiritual disciplines that the Jewish community would have been familiar with, but he adds a twist to re-define how they can be practiced. As he re-imagines what it means to give, pray and fast; it seems as though these disciplines have been distorted in the community. Importantly, in each example, he emphasizes that they should not be done to draw attention to one self.
There is always the temptation for pride to set in, as we begin to do the things Jesus did to place himself in a position to bring God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. And then, in the verses above, Jesus gives us a model for praying. Notice the simple structure, and the six distinct petitions.
The first three have to do with God. Our prayer should start with a focus on who God is. They have to do with where God is (heaven), his holiness (hallowed be thy name), and His purpose (thy will be done). After we have put God in the proper perspective, we can ask for what we need (not what we want!).
And what do we need to most? Daily bread in the form of daily provisions like: food, water, work, family, and other relationships. Forgiveness for our sin, which keeps us in a good relationship with God. And finally, deliverance from the temptations of the evil one!
What Does This Mean For Us? As we seek to participate in the kingdom kind of like Jesus describes in the Sermon on the Mount, prayer is a key discipline. Prayer puts us in a place to have a proper perspective about what is really important in life. As we pray we remain dependent on God for daily decision making and daily provision. Prayer also keeps us discerning and aware of temptation to veer from God’s way of doing things and taking back control of life ourselves.
How is your prayer life? Probably one of the most helpful New Year’s resolutions you could make in 2011 is to seek to have a consistent prayer life using the Lord’s Prayer as a model. Consider starting a prayer journal, and use the simple six petitions as a guide adding your personal touch to each petition as the Spirit leads.
Jesus, thank you for prayer, where we can communicate to our Heavenly Father through you. Help us to make time each day to praise and make our requests known to you in the power of Your Holy Spirit who intercedes for us as we pray in Your name, Amen.
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