"Your Will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In giving You praise"
- 'From The Inside Out' by Hillsong United
Luke 11:1-4 shows us how the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. The rest of these verses show what many of us know as the Lord's prayer. This was what was discussed last Sunday during the church service: that this prayer serves as a model, and not a literal prayer that we can say 10 times for something magical to happen.
I believe that the idea of the prayer being a model goes beyond giving us an idea of how to communicate with our great and good God. It certainly gave me a reason to look at my own thinking. Before we ask for forgiveness ('forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us') and before we ask Him for anything ('give us this day our daily bread') we say 'Your Will be done on earth as it is done in heaven'.
We have our own tendencies to look at the good and the bad in a certain situation. However, we must always acknowledge the sovereignty of our Lord before we make any sort of comment.
I've cherished this verse since the first time I read it, and I'd like to share it with you again:
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
It's true that everything happens for a reason. But the only way for us to be on the side that benefits is that we should have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Frankly, without it, nothing else matters.
With it, everything else follows.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:31-39
To God be all the glory. Have a blessed day.
Posted in http://jibee.blogspot.com/. God bless you!