If you grew up around the church, you learned the Lord’s prayer. Not only did we recite it in every service, but it was also a song. Now, the good part about that is I know it by heart. So do you. The only time I get in trouble is when I go to a different church. I never know if they have trespasses or debts. It gets me every time!
Did you know that’s what happens when you memorize like that? I get so worried about which “right” word to use that I forget all about what the words actually mean. In Luke 11, I think Jesus is far less concerned about the actual words and far more worried about what they mean. Let’s slow down for a moment, and consider how this perfect prayer is constructed.
Father, Hallowed be your name
This first line is about who God is. First, he is our Father. Thinking deeper into that, we know that he is our creator. In fact, he is not just my creator, but the creator of the universe. He is the Father of all things.
Now, Father is a common name for us but God, our Father, is anything but common. That is why we use the specialest of all special words Hallowed. To be hallowed is to be truly set apart. Yes, it is about being revered and honored, but it is more. It carries with it holiness and consecrated. Perfection in one word. I think it is fitting. It is only God that gets this title.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done
This is a statement of hope and our deepest desire. It asks him to bring the perfect righteousness of his kingdom, right here, right now. To make such a request requires humility and surrender. You see, when we ask for God’s kingdom to come, we are confessing that it is better than our own. Additionally, we are asking that His will reigns supreme over us. That means that my kingdom and my wants are not just secondary to his, they are irrelevant to his.
Give us each day, our daily bread
A simple request for provision. I need to be reminded that it is a request, one day at a time. It’s not about provision for the year, or for retirement, just today. Then, of course, it’s bread. Why not steak? I mean, if you are going to ask, then go big, right? This simple request leaves the provision up to God. If he wants to give you more, he can. We, however, will be content today, with the simplest of God’s provision.
And forgive us our sins
This line puts us squarely in the jaws of grace. It is a reminder that we are less than perfect. We have fallen well short of God’s expectations. It is also our confession that we do no measure up and have no means of payment.
For we forgive everyone who is indebted to us
Fittingly, this falls after our request for forgiveness. For me, it is a fitting reminder that if I am to receive God’s grace, I must also extend grace to those around me.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
This last line acknowledges our humanity. We know that in the moment, we will make poor choices. We also know that God is a great protector. He can, and in fact, promises to deliver us when temptation and evil show up (1 Corinthians 10:13).
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever
Sorry, that line doesn’t exist in the Bible. I don’t know when or who added it but it is a fitting and dramatic ending for the song, leaving my heart right where it needs to be with God at the center.