Opening THE Book with Rev John K-S January 2024

Rev John Kinchin-Smith
Assistant Minister, St Andrew’s Church, Gorleston

The Bible tells us that on one occasion when the disciples (close friends and followers) of Jesus have watched Jesus praying, they said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke’s Gospel chapter 11). They had seen something in the relationship of Jesus and God that they really wanted for themselves. Jesus answered, “When you pray, say: Abba (Father), hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation”

A longer version of this prayer is found in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 6. It’s the prayer we know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. Why is this prayer so important? Because it teaches us so much about God and life and ourselves and about our true needs. First of all the prayer acknowledges that God is real and that God is holy and wishes us to have a perfect Father/child relationship with him. It teaches us that because God is holy (completely good and pure), we are to hold him in reverence and awe. The prayer also acknowledges that God has a perfect purpose for us and his creation (his kingdom) and that we can be a part of that by living our lives according to his perfect will. It is therefore a prayer of our commitment to his will. The prayer acknowledges moreover that everything in the universe comes from God and belongs to God including our daily needs. It therefore expresses our dependence upon God and our gratitude
 
The final part of the prayer is an expression of the best kind of humility, admitting that our lives are far from perfect (our sin) and that true liberation comes from our sorrow over our sin and our forgiveness of others. It admits the ease by which we are tempted and the hard testing that can come our way and asks for help and protection. The Lord’s Prayer therefore is not only a prayer to recite, but also gives the shape and pattern for our relationship with God
 

courtesy of the Gorleston Community Magazine

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