“Setting an example”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Saturday, October 26, 2024

Luke 11: 1-13 (Forward, p. 89) CEV p. 1074

Now, here’s an intriguing question, one that had never struck me previously. The question is this: why did Jesus have to pray? After all, He was one with God the Father, and was God Himself. So, wouldn’t He automatically know God’s will and know what God wanted Him to do? And, wouldn’t He have all the resources and strength He needed, right there at His fingertips?

But then, He was also human. He became a human being, subject to all the frailties and limitations that we are. Indeed, if we take the sense of Philippians 2:7 seriously, where it says that He actually ‘emptied Himself’ of His divine abilities and prerogatives to become just like us, then He needed to call upon God and ask His help just as much as we do.

But more than that, He showed us the way, He set an example. He, more than anyone else who has lived on earth, lived out the Lord’s Prayer. It was more than ‘just words’ for Him. He certainly honoured the Father and honoured His name all through His earthly life. He put the kingdom of God first and foremost at all times, never focusing on Himself or anything else. He depended upon the Father for His daily needs, and He forgave others as probably no one else on earth ever has. And He certainly called the Father’s protection from the evil one all through His life. So, I would say that if Jesus needed to pray, then we certainly need to as well. And yes, to live it out, just like Him.

Forward notes: “Your kingdom come” (verse 2b).

“When my son was learning the Lord’s Prayer, he kept saying, ‘My will be done, my kingdom come.’ No matter how many times I tried to correct him, it remained, ‘My will be done, my kingdom come.’

“I laughed and told my wife, ‘At least he’s honest.’

“Theologian Richard Rohr once wrote that when we pray ‘your kingdom come,’ we also have to pray ‘my kingdom go.’ Whether we realize it or not, we’re working on building two kingdoms: God’s and our own. Often, those two kingdoms can coexist peacefully. The values of God’s kingdom align with our values, and they seem like one kingdom.

“Ah. But those two kingdoms will sometimes be at odds. God’s values will ultimately conflict with ours. It is definitely a matter of when and not if. And when those two kingdoms collide, we have a decision to make: will we work on ushering in God’s kingdom or our own?”

Moving Forward: “How will you help build God’s kingdom today?”