Why is the Lord's Prayer so familiar, so close to us?
The pastor's sermon today, titled "Kept Close," focused on Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord's Prayer. He emphasized that Jesus placed this prayer close to our hearts, urging us to apply it both personally and communally. The six petitions of the prayer, as taught by Jesus, are:
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts.
Yours is the glory forever.
Why is the Lord's Prayer so familiar, so close to us?
Why did Jesus intend for this prayer to be so readily accessible? He knew that even our prayers for the preservation of faith, the advancement of His kingdom, and His glory could go astray. Instead, Jesus Himself promises to fulfill the content of the Lord’s Prayer. Moses' prayer, invoking God's honor, resonates with the ultimate glory sought in the Lord's Prayer. This prayer, a revelation from Jesus, is meant to be heard by our ears and passed down through generations by our mouths. Whether recited formally or not, the Lord’s Prayer, by virtue of Jesus' promise, remains ever close to us.