November 16, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1.27)

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6.14-15)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

After reading today’s scripture for reflection, I am wondering myself how to make up for lost time. What time is that, you ask. It is the time to think of what has not yet been forgiven. Are we truly living with a “contrite” heart? Are we taking our need to forgive ourselves and others continually to God in prayer? As it is possible, are we going back to the one to whom a debt is owed by some word or action which should not have been said or given? If we know someone has something against us, are we leaving the offering and the communion at the table set before us in the presence of friends and enemies and seeking to make it right? As in the words of a contemporary Christian song, is our prayer “Lord break me for what breaks you!” In that respect, are we living a life worthy to be lived?

I heard again today the scripture which says “Whatever you ask for and believe that you have received them, those things you will have.” (Mark 11.24) Then I listen to the laundry list of frustrations with God for not delivering those things which were prayed for, “believed in” and trusted to be received. You can only imagine what is on that list because you and I have prayed for many things we have not, sometimes graciously, received. Does that mean that when we prayed there was some doubt as to the necessity, propriety and validity of that for which we were asking? Quite possibly! Good spiritual sense ought to rule and reign in our words, thoughts and actions. There are some things we ask God for under the banner of “If you never ask then you will never receive.” But, if what you ask for is the measure of your heart, mind, body and soul given first to God and then to one another does it match up? Is it worthy of praise and promise and presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

For this reason, and there are others as well, Jesus shared with His disciples what we now call “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was never intended to be copyrighted as the sole possession of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus uttered that prayer as a matter of public domain. He holds no rights and privileges for it so that He might benefit and gain from it. Well, no benefit except that we, all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, will benefit and gain from what has been given to us. I believe Mark’s recollection of Jesus’ teaching in chapter 11 of his gospel, was caveated by the understanding of what we truly ought to pray for and ask of God. Our requests are intended to be statements of thanksgiving. Hear again what Mark remembered, “When you pray, ask believing that you have received it.” It is stated in a past perfect voice. You most certainly haven’t received some things but you pray as if you have. Pray with confidence and boldness knowing that because of your oneness with Christ, the word is the command. It is like the Centurion request of Jesus to heal a servant of his. He knew that if Jesus merely gave the command, it would be done. By the time he returned home, it indeed had been done on that very hour. Or in creation as recorded in Genesis, the word was given and what was commanded happened. Then came the blessing of affirmation that what God had conceived to do had been done. Not only had it been done but it was doing exactly what it was purposed to do. So, when Jesus taught “believe you have already received it” there was the thinking that what was asked for abided in the will and way of God. Yes, according to His plan and purpose to sustain us, encourage us, strengthen us and make of us a people of faith, we asked accordingly for what we knew we already needed and had been provided. God had already said it was ours, now we are claiming it in prayer. So, we see in “The Lord’s Prayer” what we should be asking for. It is captured in the verbs: honor God as Father; submit to dwelling in the Kingdom of God on earth as those are doing in Heaven; receiving sustenance of body and soul as daily bread by abiding in God’s word; protection from Satan who by our command of faith will flee; and to embrace the very mercy of God which is known in the forgiveness of sins. In Matthew, we hear the reiteration of this critical element: forgiveness. It is by the act of forgiveness that we are made righteous. It is not about creeds, sacrificial offerings, church attendance or presumed riches and influence which makes us righteous. We know “unrighteous” people who could easily boast the same. But, it is in the very tenor of forgiveness that we see the true of God to provide for our lives. When John records Jesus saying “I AM the way, the truth and the life by which one can only enter into the full presence of God and live” it is set against the backdrop of forgiveness. Jesus’ life was about sacrificial love and faithful obedience. It was about effecting forgiveness and giving each of us the key which unlocks that door. It is left up to us what we will do with what we have already received. Today, we abide in the state of forgiveness and grace because of what Jesus did nearly two thousand years ago. But, in truth, it was something He intended to do long before that. He lived in the knowledge of what He had already received: the power of the promised resurrection. Are we not clinging to and looking forward to such resurrection for ourselves? It comes in the attitude, aptitude and altitude of forgiveness. Hear from the cross the words of forgiveness. He who was lifted up so that all eyes could see- forgave. He who was limited in effect to reach down and care reached out to care- forgiving. He who was affixed in such a way that no man could escape accepted the fate of it- forgiveness. And what did He receive for becoming the greatest sinner in all of history? Forgiveness. Yes, He bore all our past, present and future sins as the perfect sacrifice to fulfill the covenant agreement between man and God. Because He forgave and was forgiven, He lives. The same is true for you and me as we pray in confidence for exactly what God knows we need and has already promised to give us: eternal and abundant life.

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.