Letters From Grandpa #223
LETTERS FROM GRANDPA # 223 Dearest grandchild,
Today’s letter will deal with what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer”. It is found in Matthew 6:9- 13. Jesus said: “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”
Ruby E. Zeafla observed: “You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say ‘I’. You cannot prayer the Lord’s Prayer and even once say ‘my’. Nor can you pray the Lords’s Prayer and not pray for one another. And when you ask for daily bread you must include your brother. For others are included .. . in each and every plea. From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say "me."
This simple poem points to a profound theological principle. The essence of sin is to disregard God and say: "I want, what I want, when I want it." Lucifer set this wicked example when he said: "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." (Isa 14:13-14) The correct attitude, of course, is not what “I” want, but what God wants! It is insane to pit yourself against the Sovereign of the universe!
Jesus told the story of a rich fool who followed Lucifer’s evil example. After harvesting a bumper crop "he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." (Luke 12:17-19) Note that he had no consideration of God, only himself. God called him a fool because he died that very night and left all of “his” possessions to others. Jesus said: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21).
Karl Marx, whose evil influence resulted in the death of over 100 million people, wrote: “With distain I will throw my gauntlet full in the face of the world, and see the collapse of this pygmy giant whose fall will not stifle my ardor. Then will I wander godlike and victorious through the ruins of the world and giving my words an active force, I will feel equal to the Creator.”
Jesus provides for us a totally different example. He did not come to do His own will, but the will of the Father Who sent Him. He did not come to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as aransom for many. The supreme challenge of His submission came in Gethsemane. As His sweat turned crimson in the light of the Passover moon he prayed: “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done” (Lk. 22:42). As you know, Jesus denied Himself and obeyed God. Jesus took up His cross and was faithful until death. He also challenges all who would follow Him to also deny ourselves and take up our cross daily (Lk. 9:23). We are admonished in Scripture: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phil 2:5-8).
In the early 1860’s Nevada Territory Governor James Nye banned gambling. In 1909 these bans were still in place. By 1919, however, certain card games became legal. During the 1920’s the flood gates were opened and Reno became the gambling capital of the entire state. When we lived in California during the 1960’s Rodney Reyman went to Reno to start a church. He told of one resident there who resented any restrictions on her behavior. She church shopped until found a place that allowed her to do anything she wanted. She told Rodney: “I have finally found the church that offers the best deal on salvation of any church in town.”
The devil offered Adam and Eve the same kind of a deal. He tricked them into rebelling against God and replacing His will with their own. This “deal” as you know, “resulted in death”.
We have pointed out what Lucifer said.
We have pointed out what the rich fool said. We have pointed our what Karl Marx said. We have pointed out what Jesus said: WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I love you,
Grandpa Boyce