On the Lord’s Prayer:
“If you are interested enough to have read thus far you are probably interested enough to make a shot at saying your prayers: and, whatever else you say, you will probably say the Lord’s Prayer.
“Its very first words are Our Father. Do you now see what those words mean? They mean quite frankly, that you are putting yourself in the place of a son of God. To put it bluntly, you are dressing up as Christ. If you like, you are pretending. Because, of course, the moment you realise what the words mean, you realise that you are not a son of God. You are not being like The Son of God, whose will and interests are at one with those of the Father: you are a bundle of self-centred fears, hopes, greeds, jealousies, and self-conceit, all doomed to death. So that, in a way, this dressing up as Christ is a piece of outrageous cheek. But the odd thing is that He has ordered us to do it.” – C.S. Lewis*
Today, let us be “cheeky” as we dress up as Christ – even in the midst of the realities of our lives – and live as sons and daughters of God.
Our Father,
Thank you for the gift of life you give us through Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Thank you for the love you have lavished on us that we can be called your children and not be hindered from coming to you. Help us to see your glory – the glory of Jesus who is full of grace and truth – and to live as children of your Light, no matter what our circumstances may be. We ask in Christ’s name, Amen.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV)
“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14 NIV)
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:12-14 NIV)
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27 NIV)
*From Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“Run to the Father” by Matt Maher
I’ve carried a burden
For too long on my own
I wasn’t created
To bear it alone
I hear Your invitation
To let it all go
I see it now
I’m laying it down
I know that I need You
I run to the Father
Fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You saw my condition
Had a plan from the start
Your Son for redemption
The price for my heart
I don’t have a context
For that kind of love
I don’t understand
I can’t comprehend
All I know is I need You
I run to the Father
Fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon
My soul needs a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, and again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
My heart has been in Your sights
Long before my first breath
Running into Your arms
Is running to life from death
And I feel this rush deep in my chest
Your mercy is calling out
Just as I am You pull me in
And I know I need You now
I run to the Father
Fall into grace
I’m done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart found a surgeon
My soul found a friend
So I’ll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again
Songwriters: Matt Maher / Ran Jackson / Jay Cody Carnes. lyrics © Be Essential Songs
(from a post originally published July 22, 2022)