There were these two boys who lived with their Grandma. As they were about to go to bed, they knelt down first to say their prayers. The older boy started to pray. He prayed about the day he had and about everything he had done. When he finished, the younger boy began his prayer, but he prayed much louder than his brother. He was almost shouting as he prayed for bikes and toys and candy and everything he could think of. When he finished the older brother asked him “Why are you praying so loud? God is not deaf.” The younger boy responded and said ” Yeah, I know, but Grandma is!”

As we continue through this Lenten Season, our Sunday sermons are focused on “Lord, teach us to pray.” We are taking a close look at the Lord’s prayer. So far we have looked at the Introduction and First three petitions. Today we come to the fourth petition or request. Of the seven petitions in this prayer, this is the only one that has to do with physical blessings, material, earthly needs: Give us this day our daily bread. And let’s take a look at what is says in the catechism about this request:

Give us this day our daily bread.

Give us today our daily bread

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

All of our earthly needs are summarized in this brief petition. “Daily bread” means everything that we need to support this body and life. And God is concerned about that. He wants us to come to Him about everything. While His primary concern is for our spiritual needs, which He has provided for in Christ, He is not concerned only for our spiritual well-being. He made you as physical beings. He knows your needs, and He promises to provide.

The fact that only one of seven requests has to do with our earthly needs does not imply that our Lord minimizes those needs and desires that fill our daily lives. The Lord knows and provides us with more than enough to sustain us: Food, clothing, home, vocation, loved ones, friends—all gifts of a loving, gracious God. When I pray these words – Give us this day our daily bread – I am reminded of the abundant and bountiful provision of God, how incredibly blessed I am, and the need for me to share those blessings with others.

One problem here is that people seem to think that God should also provide for all of their desires, which is another thing altogether. We know the Scriptures say, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that (I Tim. 6:8), but then we think there should be more. We look around and see what others have, and wonder why we don’t have as much. Instead of rejoicing when we see our neighbor prosper, we become jealous. That is why this petition is so important for us to pray sincerely:  give us this day our daily bread. These words remind us that God provides for us and cares for us. He has already given us the most important thing we need: forgiveness of sins and eternal life! He did that by sending Jesus to do what we could not – live a perfect life and then offer that life as the payment for the sins of everyone. On top of that most wonderful and necessary blessing of all, He gives us our daily bread whether we ask for it or not! The point of this part of the Lord’s Prayer is that we recognize God as our Provider and receive His gifts with gratitude.

Proverbs 30:8-9 ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

The way this request is phrased in important. We say give us “this day” or “EACH day.” We are not to be overly concerned about the future because we know that our lives are in God’s hands. Oh sure, we work and plan, but this should always be done with the firm and certain knowledge that God provides for our needs. We should not overly-anxious about the future.

I think the example of the children of Israel in the wilderness ties in to this. (Ex 16:1-21). They were starving, so God sent them manna, the food from heaven. However, there was a condition: they must gather only enough for their daily needs. If they tried to gather too much and to store it up, it went bad. They had to be satisfied with enough for each day. Jesus wants His followers to learn to trust our heavenly Father in a similar fashion, confident that He will meet our needs each day.

Something else is significant in this request. Jesus did not teach us to pray: “Give me my daily bread.” He taught us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.”  When offering this petition we have the needs of others, as well as our own needs, in mind.  We know that so many people do not have what they need. We think of the people in Haiti and Chile after the destruction in those nations, but we don’t have to look that far. There is need all around us right here where we live. An unknown poet reminds us that our concern in praying for daily bread should be for more than just ourselves:

You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “I.”

You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “My.”

Nor can you pray the Lord’s Prayer and not pray for one another.

And when you ask for daily bread, you must include your brother.

For others are included … in each and every plea,

From the beginning to the end of it, it doesn’t once say “Me.”

We should offer this petition with then, in the spirit of Galatians 6:9-10 

‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.’

One more observation: It is not wrong for us to ask for more than what we need for our daily needs. We can ask Him for anything and everything. We commit our needs to Him. And that should be done in the spirit of understanding that if He decides to give us daily bread and nothing more, we should be content. We ought to strive for the attitude described by St. Paul:

Phil 4:11-13  I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

A little boy was asked if he prayed when he attended church, and he answered that he always did. On being questioned further as to the content of his prayer, he explained that he always said the same prayer when the others in the congregation made their silent prayer just before the sermon. “I just say the little prayer mother taught me–’Now I lay me down to sleep.’”

As we go through this Lenten Season, our Sunday sermons are all about prayer. In particular, we are looking at the Lord’s Prayer, what it means and how it can serve as a model for our prayers. Last week we talked about the Introduction and First Petition: Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Today we look at the Second and Third Petitions: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The most important thing for any of you should be where you are going to spend eternity. Water’s Edge in Frisco has a theme that they always put before the people who worship there: Eternity Matters Most. High on your list of priorities should be to live your life here on earth in a way that reflects the presence of Jesus Christ in you. Yet I find that often in my own prayer life, I spend a great deal of time and devotion on the here and now, immediate needs rather than eternal ones. The Lord’s Prayer changes that. It changes our focus from today to eternity.

That is assuming, of course, that you really pray it. To truly pray the Lord’s Prayer is more than knowing the words and repeating them along with everyone else. One of the things Luther laments in his writings is that the Lord’s Prayer is “prattled and prated all to pieces in all the world without any devout attention.” He is right on target. In the course of a year, you might say that prayer hundreds of times. But to simply say it and not pray it means you miss out on the beauty, the heartfelt sincerity of a true conversation with your Maker and Redeemer.

So when you pray  “Thy Kingdom Come” what do you mean? God’s kingdom consists of different aspects. It includes His good and gracious rule of everything, with God as the Preserver and Protector of the world. It is also the Grace in which we now stand before Him. God offers freely to all people the forgiveness of sins as a gift which you receive through faith in Jesus Christ. And God’s kingdom includes the glory of heaven that the faithful eagerly await as the reward we receive through the merits of Christ. Our prayer does not bring God’s Kingdom into existence any more that our prayer causes His name to be holy. What we are asking when we pray “Thy kingdom come” is that His kingdom would come to us, that we are a part of it,  that we remain in His grace as we eagerly anticipate our entrance into the eternal glory of heaven. We want to be part of God’s Kingdom, now and forever.

Luther put it this way:

Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Moving along to the Third Petition, we pray…

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

In each of these first three petitions, we are asking for Spiritual blessings. And in each of these we are asking that our lives be ever more conformed to God’s Word. This third petition, Thy will be done, is asking that we be given the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit so that we may do what God desires. In the Bible, we find what the will of our God is: that we believe in Jesus Christ, and believing, have life in his name.  God wants us to be saved, and those of you here today have been blessed with the message that you are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Having this faith and knowledge, it is the desire of Christians to give ourselves completely to God, following His laws, spreading His Word, living our faith. In His Word, God tells us that His will is done among His faithful when they do one thing: LOVE.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.  Love is the fulfilling of the law.  We are praying here that our lives may be lives of Christian love that comply with God’s will.

Part of praying for God’s Will to be done is setting aside our own desires, which can be a terribly difficult thing to do. We are used to having things our way. Burger King has used that slogan off and on since the early 1970s: “Have it your way.”  I conducted a funeral a while back for a non-member and the family wanted that Frank Sinatra song “My Way” (I did it my way) played. All I could think is that when we do things our way, we are bound for death and doom and destruction. Why would you want to brag about that? It is only because God sent Jesus to pay for sin that we can be assured of forgiveness and life. That should be our focus, especially at a funeral. But getting back to the topic of “Thy will be done.” How do we submit ourselves to God’s Will?

A man walks into a church in the middle of the week. He is by himself, which is perfect, because he wanted some alone time with God. He was resolved to turn his life around, and today was the day he was making a fresh start. He took out a piece of paper and started making a list. “I promise to be a better husband and father. I promise to be more faithful in church attendance. I promise to give a fair days work to my employer. I promise to…” and the list went on and on. After he had filled up the paper, he signed it, took it to the front of the church, placed it on the altar, then he sat down again. He waited. And he waited. And he waited some more. Then he heard a voice that said, “Go get the paper.” He walked to the altar, picked up the paper, and the voice said, “tear it up. “ So he did that. Ripped it to shreds. Then the voice instructed him, “Take out a blank piece of paper, sign it, and put it on the altar.” He did that, and the voice said, “That’s what it means to pray ‘Thy Will be done.’”

Lord, help us to rejoice in being your children, part of your kingdom now and forever. Give us hearts that want to live according to Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Cowboy Poetry  by Bill Jones

Jake, the rancher, went one day to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty and the clouds rolled gray and dense.

As he pounded the last staples in and gathered tools to go,
The temperature had fallen, the wind and snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart.
From the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn’t start.

So Jake did what most of us would do if we had been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head and sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roaming.
But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked — it looked just like Wyoming!

Of all the saints in Heaven, his favorite was St. Peter.
(Now, this line ain’t needed but it helps with rhyme and meter)

So they set and talked a minute or two, or maybe it was three.
Nobody was keeping’ score — in Heaven time is free.

“I’ve always heard,” Jake said to Pete, “that God will answer prayer,
But one time I asked for help, well, he just plain wasn’t there.”

“Does God answer prayers of some, and ignore the prayers of others?
That don’t seem exactly square — I know all men are brothers.”

“Or does he randomly reply, without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it’s the time of day, the weather or the season.”

“Now I ain’t trying to act smart, it’s just the way I feel.
And I was wondering’, could you tell me — what the heck’s the deal?!”

Peter listened very patiently and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition, and he said, “So, you’re the one!!”

“That day your truck, it wouldn’t start, and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us trying.”

“A thousand angels rushed, to check the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn’t heard from you in quite a long while.”

“And though all prayers are answered, and God ain’t got no quota,
He didn’t recognize your voice, and started a truck in Minnesota.”

It is good to keep in touch. We will be thinking about that on the Sundays during Lent this year as we take a look at prayer. Jesus’ disciples noticed that He always spent a lot of time in prayer, recongnized that it was helpful for Him, and they wanted what He had. They must have wondered the same things we do: What makes a good prayer? What can and should you pray about? So they implored Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

The reply of Jesus is the most used prayer in Christianity. He gave us the very words we could say, a prayer that is known by young and old alike. We pray it when we gather together for worship. Children learn it at an early age. It is offered at the bedside of the ill and dying. All Christian traditions can identify with this prayer. It is not the only prayer we can use, but because our Lord gave it to us, it is a model for us to follow. 

Is there a right way to pray and a wrong way to pray? Do we need to follow a standardized formula for our prayers to be acceptable? Do we need to be taught how to pray? Yes and No. Prayer should not be a careless recitation or thoughtless repetition. Prayer comes from the heart. Just saying the words Jesus gave us does not make it a true prayer. So let’s think about what prayer is. In the catechism, these are a few of the questions and answers that appear.

What is prayer?

Prayer is speaking to God in words and thoughts.

To whom should we pray?

We should pray to the true God only, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not to idols, saints, or anything God has created.

What should be the content of our prayers?

In our prayers we should ask for everything that tends to the glory of God and to our own and our neighbor’s welfare, both spiritual and bodily blessings. We should also praise and thank God for who He is and what He has done.

How does God answer prayer?

God hears the prayers of all Christians and answers in His own way and at His own time.

What prayer did Jesus give us to show us how to pray?

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer.

So let’s start our look at this prayer that He gave us.

Our Father who art in heaven

 In this introduction, we affirm our faith in God as our Father. For Christians, this is not simply acknowledging that God is the great Father of everything since He created it all. While that is part of it, there is more. We know that we are God’s loved children through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and death. Through Baptism, God claims us as His own, and He is a loving Father, one who wants to help us in all things. This introduction sets the tone for the whole prayer.  We are not approaching God afraid that He will reject us and our requests. We are not begging Him for things. Instead, we approach Him with faith, knowing that for Jesus’ sake He will listen, He will hear us. We come to Him in a faith relationship, as dear children go to their loving Father.

Just so you understand, you can address your prayers to the Father, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, or to all three. The reason Jesus phrases it this way is so that whenever we pray we will think of God as that loving Father who is always ready to talk with us.

Hallowed by Thy Name

After the introduction in which we address our prayers to the one true God, the one who is able to hear and answer, there are seven different petitions or “askings.” This first petition is a request for God’s name be Holy. Luther reminds us that God’s name is holy without our prayer, but we are praying here that we may keep it holy among us. How is this done? Of course, there is a connection to the second commandment. We do not want ever want to misuse God’s name, using it thoughtlessly or in an improper way. Instead, we resolve, with God’s help, to live our lives in a way that will bring honor and glory to God. While this may sound like I am stating the obvious, God’s name represents God to the world. As His children, you represent Him to the world. Therefore your actions will influence what others think about God. You should strive to keep God’s name holy by being His obedient children. You know that He has offered His Son to pay for your sins. You respond, then, with lives that do not give offense to Him, but rather lift up His name to a position of honor and respect in our world.

We’ll talk about more of this prayer next time. Until then, Make sure we you keep in touch with God through your prayers.

There is no cost for this concert. A free-will offering will be received to help the students defray the cost of the tour.

We all know today is Valentine’s Day. But if you look on the church year calendar, you find that today is also the day of Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed His glory as God to three of His disciples. In Mark’s Gospel it is described this way:

Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (NIV)

That love the Father expresses toward His Son is the same love that He has for us, His church, the body of Christ. We are totally dependent on that Love of God. It was out of love that He sent Jesus to pay the price for the sins of all men, something we could not live without. On this day the world sets aside to think about love, it is good for us to be together in worship. We witnessed God’s love being poured out again today was we watch Katy being baptized. We have experienced it in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. And now I want you to consider with me how that love is expressed in the Word. Look at what the Father said about Jesus after He said he loved Him: Listen to Him. Jesus, of course, told us to do many different things, but one word keeps coming up over and over again in what He said.

“You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matt 5:43-44

[When questioned about the commandments] Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  … And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Matt. 22:37,39

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12

Before we go any further, I want to be sure that you understand what is meant by LOVE. There were three main terms in the language of the New Testament that meant love. One word was used to speak of sexual love, another for brotherly love, and the third to describes an unselfish love, a giving love, one that is more concerned with the well-being of others. That word, AGAPE, is the one used to speak of the love that God has for us and the kind of love we should show each other. At the beginning of our service today, we spoke responsively the words of the so called “love chapter” of the Bible, I Corinthians 13. I want to go over those words again, offering a little commentary.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 

Flowery words about love are fine, but they mean nothing on their own. Sweet talk that isn’t backed up by sweet actions isn’t going to get you very far at all. Those who speak of love but don’t actually show it will prove themselves to be insincere. But those who love in word and deed, what they say and what they do, will show their love to be genuine.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

Even if a person has an unlimited amount of understanding and the capacity to trust God for all his/her needs, God tells us such a person is nothing without love. You can be the smartest person in the world, you can have all the right answers, but you will be impossible to live with if you are not loving.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Supreme sacrifices are nothing if Christian love does not inspire them. Paul tells us that even martyrdom, surrendering your body to the flames for a noble cause, is worthless if it is not motivated by love for God and love for others. What does this say about you? What does this say about your grudging acts of charity? What does it say about your day to day living?

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

How often do we all fall short of these ideals? Yet we can see how true they are. When you deal lovingly with your children, you will be patient and kind with them. If love motivates your actions, you will resist blowing your top and losing your cool. You won’t dredge up old sins by saying, “ I still remember the time that you….”

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Our human nature would have us put the worst construction on everything. When we hear something bad about someone, rather than showing kindness and attempting offer a loving explanation, we tend to pounce on gossip like buzzards on road kill. But that is not the way it should be for one who is controlled by the love of God. Rather, we should faithfully speak up for others. As I said before, we may not always live up to these ideals, but few would disagree that this is the way we should live, what we should all strive to do. This love is for the ordinary circumstances of day to day living. It is not something to be reserved for special occasions.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

Paul mentions prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, saying each of these is only temporary, that they will pass away. But he wrote Love never fails. It endures, it is lasting. Prophecies, whether miraculous foretelling of future events or everyday preaching and teaching, will cease. Speaking in tongues will no longer exist. The use of Spiritual knowledge will come to an end. But love will go on.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

Christians are to grow in their maturity. We find that in becoming more like Christ. The prophecy and knowledge we have today is not complete. We know in part and prophecy in part. But that will change when Christ returns. Then we shall see face to face. Paul admits that our love will not be perfect this side of heaven. We will be a poor reflections of Jesus and His love, but we should continue our efforts to show love.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Love will endure. So will faith and hope. Yet Paul tells us love is the greatest. Why is that? Some would argue that the most important thing is faith that accepts Jesus. After all, that is the only way to be saved. Why then does Paul here say that love is greatest?

The answer is uncertain. Paul does not explain to us why he writes that love is the greatest. Perhaps he is saying that to have love is to be like God. It may also be that love brings us into the closest communion with God. But perhaps the best answer is the simplest. God is not described as “faith” or “hope” in the Scriptures, but I John 4:16 tells us GOD IS LOVE.

The love of God was shown on the cross. He does not love us because there is anything lovable about us, but simply because He is Love. And we are also told that Love covers a multitude of sins. That is what Jesus did by dying in our place and rising again to assure us of forgiveness.  

God has shown us Himself. He has shown us His love. We need to show that to others.

February 21: Lord, Teach us to Pray – Father, Holy be Your Name

February 28: Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done.

March 7: Give us What We Need

March 14: Forgive us, Lead us Not into Tempation, Deliver us from evil

March 21: Kingdom, Power and Glory

February 17: Life’s Better in My Hands!    1 Peter 2:20-25  (Our Ash Wednesdayservice will include Holy Communion) 

February 24: I’m Being True to Myself!   1 Peter 1:22-25

March 3: This Is It???  1 Peter 1:3-5 

March 10: How Do You Know Who I Am?   1 Peter 2:9-12

March 17: How Can I Believe in a God Who Would…   1 Peter 4:12-25

March 24: I Need This…and This…and This…  1 Peter 4:1-6