Our Father ....

Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

There was a famous TV evangelist that assured his listeners that if they gave a gift to his ministry God would bless them.

He promised that every giver would receive a "life-changing creative idea, supernatural favor, and a debt-canceling miracle." Even more, his audience was assured God had given them the power to get wealth. It was that assurance which had the evangelist issue the challenge: "I dare you ... I double-dog dare you to lay hold on your belly right now, and with a heart full of faith shout as loud as you can, 'I have been given the power to get wealth.'"

When I heard those words, I thought, Wow! I don't remember my professors at Moody teaching me that. I must have been sick when they covered that material. Amazingly, none of my old classmates could remember such a class either.

The sad, sorry reality of life is this: humans, including that evangelist, believe they, not God, know what is best.

Think about it. It didn't take too much urging for Adam and Eve to be convinced that they, not God, should hold the reins. The rest of the Old and New Testaments, indeed, all of human history provides ample evidence that our original ancestors were the rule and not the exception.

Yes, I know, we officially and publicly pray as Jesus taught us. In our worship, both public and private, we ask that the Lord's will be as honored and as successful here on earth, as it is in heaven above.

God has called into being all that is. He has protected us, cared for us, and helped us through situations we never knew existed. He can plainly see the future and what is best for us. Indeed, He even sent His Son into this world to give His life, so we might have everything needful to be saved.

In spite of all that, ungrateful sinners that we are, we keep on telling the Lord what He should do. We who have seen the scope of His love should know better. He most certainly deserves better.

Dear Lord, forgive us for our sins. Especially for our pride. Grant us a faith that prays and means it when we says, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In Jesus' Name. Amen.