Our Relationships to God Described in The Lord's Prayer

 

The prayer that the Lord taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 sets before us all of the relations that we enjoy in reference to God as a Christian. Note how many there are in this familiar passage.

1. A child of God: "Our Father"

2. A child away from home, but constantly watched over: "Which art in heaven"

3. A worshipper of the Holy One: "Hallowed be thy Name"

4. A soldier and subject of the King: "Thy kingdom come"

5. A servant attending upon the Master: "Thy will be done" (Believer's are also household attendants that are near and dear to the Master.)

6. A servant with a heavenly calling living by the will of Another: "On earth as it is in heaven"

7. A beggar, a dependant creature, and a needy child expectant of the Father's provision: "Give us this day, our daily bread"

8. A sinner: "Forgive us our debts"

9. A brother or sister in God's family who is a peacemaker and a merciful debtor to grace: "As we forgive our debtors"

10. A weak believing sinner, too often unwatchful of making provision for sin, and who realizes he is danger: "Lead us not into temptation"

11. A saint, or a believing sinner growing in holiness, dependant on God's strength, and longing for heaven: "But deliver us from evil"

12. A wrestler in prayer, pleading arguments with God, or adding Biblical reasons to our petitions (giving Him no rest till He makes Jerusalem--each true local church--a praise in the earth): "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever"

13. A confident believer who is assured that God answers prayer: "Amen"

May God give us such a faith!