Going to Jesus

Daily Thoughts

 Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:

• Collection

  Thoughts for the Morning Thoughts for the Evening Random Thoughts

• Month

  January February March April May June July August September October November December

• Day

  10-01 Preparing for the Truth 10-02 A Saved Sinner? 10-03 "He Will Save His People from their Sins" 10-04 The Disciples' Prayer, Part One - "Forgive us our Trespasses" 10-05 The Disciples' Prayer, Part Two - "Our Father . . . Thy Kingdom Come." 10-06 The Disciples' Prayer, Part Three - ". . . as we forgive others." 10-07 "Willing to Receive Rebuke" 10-08 "Two Secrets" 10-09 "The Bride and the Bridegroom" 10-10 "Afraid of Love" 10-11 "In the Flesh" 10-12 Inheriting the Kingdom 10-13 "Getting into Christ" 10-14 "Who is My Family?" 10-15 "Playing Both Ends of the Line" 10-16 The Holy Land 10-17 The Wise and the Foolish, Part One 10-18 The Wise and the Foolish, Part Two 10-19 "Let us Fear" 10-20 At Ease in Zion 10-21 Two Kinds of Unity 10-22 "The Least of These, My Brethren" 10-23 "As Long As I Am in the World . . ." 10-24 "Who is Right?" 10-25 The Results of Obedience 10-26 Because You Belong 10-27 Who is Lost? 10-28 The Lord's Anointed 10-29 "Nations and Denominations" 10-30 Wanderers among Denominations 10-31 Don't Be a Fool

 

Thought for Today
Oct. 06

THE DISCIPLES' PRAYER, PART THREE

Did you know that praying can be a very dangerous act? Yes, prayer can be a very dangerous activity indeed. Solomon said that "the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to God." So, we know that for the ungodly man who refuses to submit to the will of God, praying can be one of the most hazardous of enterprises. Isn't it a strange thought that the mere act of praying could possibly provoke God's wrath against the person doing it? But prayer, just in itself, is no more holy than cleaning windows if the person praying is simply going through a religious ritual. In fact, in that case, cleaning windows or mowing grass would be better things to do.

But that is not the whole story, for Solomon continues by saying, "but the prayer of the upright is His delight." Amen! As the old song goes, "Jesus listens all the day long, just to hear his children pray." It thrills God for His children to pray! Every word they utter in prayer is precious to Him. Still, we should be aware of the reality that praying is not a holy thing unless the people are holy who are praying.

When I was young in the Lord, I was taught that the most dangerous of all petitions to make to God was the one contained in the prayer that Jesus told his disciples to pray. It is often called "The Lord's Prayer", but it is not. It was the disciples' prayer. Here is what it said:

"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."

In this prayer, the Lord told his disciples to ask God to forgive them as they forgave others. For the person unwilling to forgive another who has wronged him, praying this prayer alone could ruin his life. If we are unwilling to forgive others when they repent for evil deeds they have done, we cannot expect God to forgive us. He forgives us just as we forgive others (Mt. 6:14-15). If we are from our hearts willing to forgive anyone who truly repents for wrongs done to us (Mt. 18:21-35), then we can come with faith "unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

"Blessed are the merciful", said Jesus, "for they shall obtain mercy." To drive the point home, he could have said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they are the only ones who shall obtain mercy from God."