Thursday January 5, 2017
The Lord’s Prayer
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our
Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be
done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And
forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into
temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
I. Knowing is for Living
Yesterday, we dealt with the importance of “knowledge” leading to certain
actions. We will continue today on this same topic by looking at the teaching
of Jesus.
Jesus taught practical Christianity
in the Sermon on the Mount. To some
people, it has not seemed very practical, but it certainly speaks from start to
finish about day-to-day realities. Here we find instruction on how to behave,
on the motivations which lie behind our actions, on prayer, anxiety and many
other practical matters. But on what foundation are these practical realities
to be built? Jesus teaches that they rest on what we know of God, his nature and the ways in which he deals with
men.
Re-read the prayer of Jesus (above)
and see if you can spot these doctrines; – the fatherhood of God, his heavenly
existence, his Holiness, his name, his kingdom and its coming, the nature of the
divine will, his daily providence, his forgiveness, the problem of temptation
and the existence of the devil.
The sermon on the Mount, Christ’s design for life in the kingdom of
God, as it has been called, is an unashamedly doctrinal sermon. The message
is that the knowledge of God and the sure
understanding of his character and ways, provide the basis for all
practical Christian living.
Challenge: Focus on a single
character of God (example: love,
holiness, power, Omniscience etc.) and follow it today throughout your day
and praise Him for it and see if it impacts your walk today.
This Day in Christian History:
Jan 5 – birthday of CYRUS HAMLIN (1811) an extraordinary innovator. He was the first
builder in the world to make use of steel girders. He also constructed the
first steam engine in Maine. Became a missionary to Turkey and used his many
innovative skills to help people. Lived into his 90’s and a year before his
death, he wrote a friend, “Upon the single plank of Christ’s
righteousness, I am ready to launch upon the ocean of eternity.”
Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 1)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you – Matthew 6:33
Ka mou kumi mu‘a ki hono pule‘anga, mo e mā‘oni‘oni ‘a‘ana, pea ‘e ‘atu
mo ia foki ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ko ia kotoa – Matiu 6:33
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week 1 - Genesis 12-15;
Psalm 148; Mark 5
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