- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
Praying Jesus' Way (2)
'...before the throne of our merciful God... we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.'Hebrews 4:16 CEV
When you pray, 'Our Father,' you define every other relationship in your life:
(a) You define your relationship to the material world. Since God is your Father, you're not a stranger but an heir to the blessings of His universe (Psalms 24:1).
But beware of the values of the world: 'Never give your hearts to this world or to any of the things in it. [You] cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time.' (1 John 2:15 PHPS) Nothing must take God's place!
(b)You define your relationship to others. Everyone around you is your Father's creation and as such you must accept, love and value them. We're commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves regardless of colour, creed or distinction. We're not to compete with them or strive for superiority over them or use them for our own ends.
(c) You define your relationship to yourself. God says He's your Father; what a foundation on which to build your self-worth! Regardless of what's been said or done in the past to make you feel inadequate or inferior, you can hold your head high. You're not a nobody once God calls you His child.
(d) You define your relationship to God. Because of your relationship to Jesus, the Father declares you '...accepted in the Beloved.' (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV) As He accepts Jesus, so He accepts you! '...As many as received Him...He gave the right to become children of God...' (John 1:12 NAS)
You no longer need to approach Him in fear. You can walk right up 'before the throne of our merciful God [and] be treated with undeserved kindness and...find help.' It doesn't get any better!
written by Bob Gass
'...before the throne of our merciful God... we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.'Hebrews 4:16 CEV
When you pray, 'Our Father,' you define every other relationship in your life:
(a) You define your relationship to the material world. Since God is your Father, you're not a stranger but an heir to the blessings of His universe (Psalms 24:1).
But beware of the values of the world: 'Never give your hearts to this world or to any of the things in it. [You] cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time.' (1 John 2:15 PHPS) Nothing must take God's place!
(b)You define your relationship to others. Everyone around you is your Father's creation and as such you must accept, love and value them. We're commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves regardless of colour, creed or distinction. We're not to compete with them or strive for superiority over them or use them for our own ends.
(c) You define your relationship to yourself. God says He's your Father; what a foundation on which to build your self-worth! Regardless of what's been said or done in the past to make you feel inadequate or inferior, you can hold your head high. You're not a nobody once God calls you His child.
(d) You define your relationship to God. Because of your relationship to Jesus, the Father declares you '...accepted in the Beloved.' (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV) As He accepts Jesus, so He accepts you! '...As many as received Him...He gave the right to become children of God...' (John 1:12 NAS)
You no longer need to approach Him in fear. You can walk right up 'before the throne of our merciful God [and] be treated with undeserved kindness and...find help.' It doesn't get any better!
written by Bob Gass
