Do We Really Mean It?

Grace for All

Hope, No Matter What

(our theme for September)

Matt. 6:9-15

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one]’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

In a recent Sunday School series of classes, we talked about this prayer that we call the Lord’s Prayer, verses 9-13. We didn’t spend much time talking about verses 14-15. As we talked, I was reminded of thoughts that I have had for some time about this prayer and my life.

As a lot of us do, I often say the Lord’s Prayer either as part of a group or by myself. I have often wondered whether we are really listening to what we are saying. Do I really want God’s kingdom to come on earth, want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, want only my daily bread, want God to forgive me as I forgive others? I expect I really mean the part about deliverance from temptation and the evil one. Do I heed the warning in verses 14 and 15 that follow the prayer?

If I really mean it when I say this prayer, I need to keep it always in mind and measure everything I do and say against my vision of what heaven is like. If the world is to be more like heaven, I need to accept the changes that may make me uncomfortable. This is not easy to do but with God’s help each of us can do our part. When the parts of this prayer are added together, it begins to make a greater impact. It shows us how it affects the whole of our lives.

Prayer:

Dear God, help us this day and each day to live like we really mean every word of this prayer and forgive us when we fall short. Amen.

This devotional was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [e-mail].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.