November 10 - LD 45, Day 6: The Model Prayer
by Rev. G. Van Baren
Read: Luke 11:1-12
The disciples had made
their request of Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." They were aware of
the fact that John the Baptist had taught his disciples how to pray. In
response, Jesus had given to them the "Lord's Prayer.” Some call it,
rightly, the "model prayer."
What immediately strikes
one is the brevity of the prayer itself. It is striking that the prayer
consists of but six petitions. It is a prayer which can be uttered in its
entirety in less than 30 seconds.
By this instruction,
Jesus did not teach that our prayers ought to be very brief -perhaps no more
than 30 seconds. Jesus Himself could pray all night. We ask, "Did the
perfect Son of God have the need to pray all night?" Jesus would have
communion with God His Father even as He was ready to offer Himself to satisfy
God's just demands for payment for the sins of those given Him by the Father.
Our prayers likewise may
be fervent cries to God uttered in times of great need or great distress. Jesus
does condemn long prayers spoken in pretence and made to gain the admiration of
men (Matt 23:14).
What Jesus does teach is
that prayer need not be lengthy to be heard by God. God is not to be swayed by
our "much speaking." A sincere prayer which is heard and answered by
God might consist of but a few words.
In the "Lord's
Prayer", Jesus sets forth the principle of prayer and the proper content
of prayer. We are taught to clearly understand to Whom
we pray and for what we ask in that prayer. This is the thrust of the
instruction of the Catechism in succeeding Lord's Days.
We consider one further
important question. Ought we to pray only this prayer? Is it not the perfect
prayer? Does it not present to God petitions covering the complete array of
what ought to be included in any prayer?
This prayer can appropriately be prayed as Christ has given it to us. In fact, godly parents can teach their very young children to pray this prayer. It is a prayer that they can remember and use for life. It becomes the occasion for parents to remind their children the requirements of proper prayer.
What a gift is this
prayer Christ taught us! We often know not what we should pray for as we ought.
Now we are given a simple yet perfect example of what we are to pray for. God
grant that His people may learn well from this model.