Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
There is a prayer in the Bible that is often called "the Lord's Prayer", even though the Lord never prayed it. Jesus' disciples came to him one day asking him to teach them to pray, as John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray. He obliged them by telling them to pray simple prayers. In one place, he warned them of men who thought that God heard their prayers because they prayed long, liturgical prayers. "Use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do", he said. "For they think they will be heard [by God] for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like them, for your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him."
The "Lord's Prayer" is actually an unpretentious pattern for his disciples to use when they prayed. It was a simple prayer, and it suggested to them that they were altogether dependent upon the mercy of God for their sustenance and their salvation. It was a prayer about God; it was not at all about man's ability to think of wondrous things to say. This is not the Lord's Prayer; rather, this is the disciples' prayer, the one which Jesus' disciples were to use as a pattern when they prayed. He told them to pray like this:
"Our
Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom
come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread, and forgive us our debts [transgressions] as we forgive our debtors.
And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen."
What an incredibly simple prayer for the Master of the entire universe to give as an example of prayer that means something to God!
This sample prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples was not to be taken as a prayer that becomes effectual just because someone memorizes it and repeats it word-for-word, over and over again. There are no such gimmicks in God's kingdom. That sort of thing is exactly what Jesus told them not to think would happen. This prayer was intended only to be a general guide to the kind of praying that means something to God; to wit, a confession of His power and of our need. That is all. When a sincere, humble heart calls on God, He hears. "A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Men are still superstitious about praying, just as Jesus said many were during his time on earth. One need only to behold the multiplied millions today who think that by repeating a prayer over and over, God will hear and answer. While many cultures and religions perform such superstitious deeds, the most famous of this repeat-a-prayer mentality is associated with the Christian cult of Mary. While moving beads along a string, millions to this day repeat, sometimes hundreds of times, the famous "Hail Mary, full of grace" prayer, in the vain hope of obtaining some answer from heaven.
I will remind you of what Jesus told his disciples: "Use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do", he said. "For they think they will be heard [by God] for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like them, for your heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him."