esus’ disciples, seeing Him pray to the Father so frequently and so effectually and seeing the close relationship between Him and the Father, asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). They could see the power of prayer in His life. The Lord replied, “In this manner, therefore, pray” (Matt. 6:9). From this it seems that Jesus intended what follows as a pattern, rather than something merely to memorize and routinely recite. Let us analyze this “model” prayer to see how we may apply it today.

ur Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” How we address God is of primary importance. Since He has bestowed such love on us as to call us His sons (1 John 3:1), we should reciprocate by addressing Him as “Father” (Gal. 4:4) and praise His high and holy name (Psalm 111:9), expressing the reverence that is His due. This will help us to be mindful of the gravity, as well as the privilege of prayer.

our kingdom come.” The apostles were to pray for the kingdom to be established, as God had promised through such prophets as Daniel, Micah and Isaiah. It is important that we also express hope in the fulfillment of His promises. Of course, His kingdom has long been established (Mark 9:1; Col. 1:13), but we might pray, “May the borders of your kingdom be extended.”

our will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We should also express the desire for our lives and the lives of others to be conformed to God’s will. With Paul we should be able to say, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved” (Rom. 10:1). Since God “desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-4), we should pray to this end.

ive us this day our daily bread.” Rather than worry about what we shall eat, drink, put on, etc., we should recognize our total daily dependence upon God, remembering that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). If you “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” you shall have the things you need (Matt. 6:33). This involves “casting all your care upon Him, for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

orgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” If we would seek forgiveness of our own sins against God, we must forgive the sins of others against us. And we will do this if we want to obey the second great commandment—“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39-40).

o not lead us into temptation.” We are to follow God wherever He may lead, and we are to “count it all joy when [we] fall into various trials” (James 1:2). But we are permitted to ask Him to keep these to a minimum.

ut deliver us from the evil one.” Of course, God “will not allow [us] to be tempted beyond what [we] are able; but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that [we] may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). We should, however, pray for wisdom to recognize “the way of escape” when trials come (James 1:2-5).

or Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.” We must always remember that the kingdom belongs not to us but to God. We can neither add to nor take from the things concerning it. We should also keep in mind that He alone has the power to command and to enforce obedience. And we should always give Him the glory He deserves for all the good that is accomplished through our own efforts and those of others. &

THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

By Bob Myhan

any who were scripturally baptized have failed to realize that Christians are to be “a peculiar people” (Titus 2:11-14, KJV) by living a “peculiar” life. As a result, they continue to live as they did before they were baptized.

he word “new” is closely linked with Christian discipleship. One undergoes a “new birth” (John 3:3-7), when he becomes a “new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17) having a “new name” (Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26), new relationships (Romans 8:14-16, 29), and new obligations (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 16:2; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:24-25). As a result, he is expected to live a new life (Rom. 6:3-4). Many things are said in Scripture about this “new life.”

he brethren who made up the Lord’s church at Thessalonica exemplify the threefold nature of the life God expects of a Christian. “....you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:9-10).

irst, the life of a Christian is to be a changed life. The Thessalonians had “turned to God from idols” (1 Thess. 1:9). Of course, there are many kinds of idols: pleasure (1 Cor. 10:7), riches (Col. 3:5), and anything else that comes between the individual and God. Therefore, in order to live a changed life, you must “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). You must, also, “put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and... put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24). “....if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

econd, the life of a Christian is to be a serving life. The Thessalonians had “turned to God...to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Of course, an essential part of our service to God is our service to one another. ”And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”' (Matt. 25:40). Such is the path to true greatness. “....whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:26-28).

hird, the life of a Christian is a waiting life. The brethren in Thessalonica had “turned to God…to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:10). Jesus will surely come again (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11) but the time of His coming is uncertain (Matt. 24:36). The certainty of the fact and uncertainty of the time will lead one to live in a constant state of active vigilance (Matt. 24:42-44) in hope of His glorious appearing (1 Thess. 1:3; Titus 2:13).

ear reader, if you have been scripturally baptized, it is essential that you be living (1) a changed life, (2) a serving life and (3) a waiting life. If this is not the case, why is it that “God...now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30)? Repentance is the determination to forsake and avoid sin. If it is the case that one does not have to forsake and avoid sin in order to please God and to go to heaven, why is it the case that all men must repent? If there need not be a determined effort to forsake and avoid sin in the second place, there need be no determination to forsake and avoid sin in the first place. If you have not been scripturally baptized, then you must determine—prior to being baptized—that this is the life you will live after being baptized. That is what repentance is. &