S = 11:1b-2 “Lord, teach us to pray, as John
taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come…”
O = In this very familiar passage, Jesus is specifically
answering the request, “Lord, teach us to pray” for John the Baptist apparently
also taught his disciples. This passage in Luke is the shorter version of the
prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. What strikes me as I read this today is the first
line…“Father, hallowed be your name.” This means is that we desire God’s name
to be “hallowed” which is an old English way of saying “holy or sacred”. It is
the language of worship, of reverence, but it involves my participation. How
often have I just said these words without thinking about how my life either
hallows or fails to hallow my Father’s name? My behavior, the way I live and love
has a direct impact on whether God’s name will be hallowed by those around me. Secondly,
do I pray out of a world-view oriented around the coming of God’s kingdom or
merely a desire to see Him bless my kingdom?
A = Am I living into this prayer? Do my attitudes and actions
lead people to hallow God’s name/character or am I a stumbling block to
whatever God-awareness they might have? I know that I often fall short in this
area. I need to allow the first and second clauses to impact the way that I
think, pray, and live this week. Perhaps as I pray these simple lines it will
remind me to refocus my life around God’s kingdom and representing the family
well.
P = O Lord, may I live into your holiness so that others may
better see the winsome beauty of your person and may I love others out of a
deep desire that your kingdom might come in all its fullness—in my heart, in my
family, in my neighborhood, town, etc. Lead me on the journey of discipleship
today as a hallowed Father. Amen.
S = 10:30,33 “Jesus
replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among
robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead… But
a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had
compassion.”
O = Within this parable—teaching us to live with a view
towards treating everyone as a “neighbor” by showing mercy to them—is an
illustration of what the world does to us (robs, strips, beats, and leaves for
dead when we are of no further use) and of what we can all too often do to
others. There is also the illustration of how Christ shows compassion (lit. “to
enter into the suffering of another”) on us—binding up our wounds, cleansing,
carrying, and caring for us.
A = Do I realize what the world’s ideas do to my soul—that before
I experience the saving work of Christ I am half-dead and helpless on the road?
Many don’t. Do I see the robber in my heart and how I can begin to treat others
as a result? Do I see Jesus as a judge or as the One who truly enters into my
suffering and brings healing to me at great cost to himself? Will I follow the
example of mercy to others—both family & stranger—this week? Or will my
empty religion in the Temple of Self take me by on the other side?
P = O Lord, thank-you for the healing me and saving me from
the fall through your costly love. May I be sensitive to ones in need I meet
this week. May my words and deeds help to bind up the broken hearted and my
solidarity with the one on the road lead me to go to them and share your mercy
as you give the opportunity. Melt my heart, bridle my tongue, and guide my
hands today. Amen.
S = Luke 10:5-6 “Whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest
upon him. But if not, it will return to you.”
O = The larger group of 72 disciples were sent out were to
be givers not just takers. In addition to their works of healing and deliverance,
they were to come with words of blessing that were more than mere words, the
customary “Shalom.” But if there was one who valued peace, who received the
gospel message, it would remain on him. There was no need to evaluate and judge
hearts before offering a blessing…it didn’t came in response for hospitality
received, but up front in faith. If there were no “sons of peace” there is
nothing wasted—you move on—and your peace comes back to you.
A = I need to be quick to bless and speak the peace of God
over people, homes, and offices I enter. I need to recognize that my words are
more than just words but have spiritual weight to them. I need to be more a “son
of peace” myself as I go and minister the gospel message.
P = O Lord, may I be an ambassador of your peace today, may
I only go where you are committed to go as well. May I keep my eyes open for
those who will respond and may I always think about how I can bless others, not
just how they can bless me! You came not to be served but to serve. Can I
expect any less for myself…as part of your kingdom mission? Amen.
S = Luke 9:49-50 “John answered, “Master, we saw
someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he
does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one
who is not against you is for you.”
O = This is really amazing to me. This other person seems to
be manifesting a greater belief than even the apostles at this time. He is
successful in driving out demons in Jesus’ name when the apostles had failed.
It seems he understood that the power, the authority, was in Jesus not in
himself. A lesson the disciples apparently had forgotten. In addition, why does
John think this is the topic to bring up to save face after the argument about
who was greatest…or does he? My first reading is that John was trying to show
Jesus that while they had perhaps missed the point by arguing about greatness, they
recognized that Jesus was the greatest and that they were the defenders of his
deliverance franchise. If this is John’s motivation, then Jesus’ correction
puts an end to it. Imagine thinking that Jesus would be happy that people were
being left in their bondage once this man’s “unauthorized” ministry! But I
wonder, if perhaps instead of trying to get Jesus’ approval, John is simply
coming clean after being convicted by Jesus’ teaching? I would like to hope
that it might have been the latter.
A = Do I see the success of other’s in the name of Jesus as
a threat? Do I see the Kingdom of God as bigger than my ministry, my
congregation, my denomination? I hope so. God’s team is bigger than any one person
or group. Within the realm of Biblical orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy
(right actions) there is a vast multitude of committed followers of Christ. We
need to get better at working together and not being envious or defensive at
the success of others even at a time when we seem to be falling short.
P = O Lord, may I be more concerned about hurting people
experiencing your deliverance than how it looks for my own ministry. May I be
quick to confess, to come clean, when I realize my motives and actions have
fallen short accurately representing your “name” in love, grace, humility, and
truth. May I never hinder someone acting on true belief in your power and
authority to help those in need. Instead, may I be more like them this week! Amen.
