“Pray, then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.”
Of course we’re likely to think mainly of ourselves, maybe only ourselves. And to some extent, that’s understandable. It’s not someone else in the morning having to get out of bed. Also, if we don’t take care of ourselves or get the help we need, how can we help others? True.
But just the same, one of the key ways we are blessed and helped is through being a blessing and help to others (Proverbs 11:25). In the prayer that Jesus taught we’re reminded that while it includes us, it includes others with us. In a sense potentially it includes the whole world but in context all who are followers of Jesus. And we pray this prayer as those in community with the attitude in our fellowship and church that we’re in all of life together.
The “I, me, mine” mindset is very western, very American, but not really Christian in the true sense of the word. Our life is not in what we can get out of it, but what we can give to others. We receive in order that we might give. And the prayer Jesus taught indicates that we’re to do so together.
Jesus community 