This summer, we have spent the past few months diving deep into the words and meaning of the Lord's Prayer. We may say it every Sunday (hopefully every day), but few of us have taken an extended period to consider all of its facets. So we took the last weeks and did so.
What have we learned?
Well, for one thing, the prayer that we all know by heart is not the prayer given to us in scripture - at least not precisely. Instead, we use a combined version that has been developed by the body of Christ throughout the centuries and passed down to us. This does not remove it's authority, but should make us pause to consider what else we might learn from the originals.
Second, it is debts and trespasses and sins. In fact, all three are accurate translations of the Greek word in either Luke or Matthew (the gospels from which the Lord's Prayer comes). So, whichever way you feel comfortable praying - if you are using one of those three options, you are correct.
Lastly, that the prayer's foci mirrors and echoes the focus of Jesus' own work in the world. Put simply - that the kingdom will come, God will be honored, and evil will be overcome. Along with that, though, comes a side to the prayer that we often don't want to talk about.
Prayer is not just to deepen our connection with God. It is to take part in the transformation God offers to us - one that will make us more like God, a little bit every day. And if we become more like God, Christ, and the Spirit that guides us, we will find ourselves living as they do...
Read More
