What deep mysteries are contained in the Lord’s Prayer. How many and great they are! They are expressed in a few words, but they are rich in spiritual power so that nothing is left out; every petition and prayer we have to make is included. It is a compendium of heavenly doctrine.
~Saint Cyprian (200-258)
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
~ Jesus, King of The Universe
Oh beloved, it is true. We are made in the image of our Father in heaven. But, of this image, we (you and i both) have fallen far short of His glory. And it is difficult for us for us to see this before we are made new in Him.
In fact, it is impossible. And this is some of the best news we have ever received. For in understanding the impossibility of our justification, we see the continuing condundrum of trying to do our Christian life in our own strength.
The prayer above points to this truth. Notice the flow of the entire structure. Everything in it is about us seeing G_d for who He is. And then it is, in light of us seeing the truth, understanding that everything flows from Him.
His Name
His Kingdom
His Will
His Provision
His Forgiveness
His Guidance
His Deliverance
His Power
Forever.
But wait. Did you see it beloved? There is one item for which we are responsible. It seems to be a critical element too… Forgiving others. And in showing us the relationship between us forgiving others, and experiencing His forgiveness, our Brother is making a very serious point.
Everything that is Him, is available to us. We are Designed to run in power and strength (His Power and Strength). And G_d is going to give us everything we need to get it done. We have capacities for physical and intellectual performance that go far beyond our sense of what we can do.
And those who have learned to walk in the power He has given us through His Spirit, have learned the point that our Saviour and Brother and King is making: Forgiveness is the catalyst to receiving His power in full measure. Forgiveness is this complete letting go of our lordship over anyone else, and allowing Him alone to play that role.
So, when we don’t let go of the things that Jesus has already paid for, we usurp (we think) His throne. And Jesus will allow us to have a go at playing lord of our lives… but the results are always the same: disaster.
For in interposing our strength against His, we create an enormous ‘blockage’ in the flow of His power – because now, we are trying to run our lives through our tiny little brains, instead of receiving and processing the manifold wisdom and full-counsel of G_d through our spirits.
Can this fool of a writer make a suggestion? Forgive that person you need to forgive. Let it go, and see if all the other elements of your life don’t radically increase in effectiveness. Tonight is your night beloved. Time to run in the fullness of His strength. Time to let go, and let G_d be who He is.
