Friday, August 22, 2008

God's Pre-eminence Part 8 of 8 of Relationship with God

GOD’S PRE-EMINENCE
Developing a Relationship with God Part 8 of 8
1Chronicles 29:11-13

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious Name.”

Today’s Lord’s Prayer ends with a triumphant blast of praise: “for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.” This sentence was not part of the prayer that Jesus originally gave to His disciples. It is a doxology (dox-OL-o-gee is Latin, meaning good news).

The young Church added this so that the prayer wouldn’t end with Jesus’ final words in Matthew 6, “But deliver us from the evil one.” These words frightened people, and were unsettling. Luke 11:4 ends the prayer: “And lead us not into temptation.” Adding the doxology to the end of Jesus’ original prayer was quickly embraced.

King David supplied many words we say at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. The opening Scripture to this devotion is his glorifying God for successfully assembling the materials for building God’s temple.

The four living creatures chant in Revelation 5:13: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” This supports our ending to The Lord’s Prayer. How do you worship God in your prayers?

Our heavenly Father is rich beyond measure. We praise God on our knees, catching a glimpse of His wonder. Does God’s presence, His pre-eminence (EM-in-enc means distinction, prominence) fill you with awe? Pre means God existed before anything.

Prayer is talking to God, developing a relationship with your Father, Who simply wants to connect with you, His child. He’s more interested in what’s inside your heart than what words you use to express yourself. You’re urged to approach His throne boldly and share openly and honestly all concerns with Him. Talk to the Father like you would a best friend. Proverbs 18:24 calls God “a friend Who sticks closer than a brother.”

Take Home Nugget
Explaining the meaning of the passages in The Lord’s Prayer intends to provide an outline for our prayers. The first three passages frame God’s glory (His name, His kingdom, His will). The middle three show His care for us (Give us, forgive us, lead us). The final sentence is worship.

Prayer is as essential to growing Spiritually, and as necessary as breathing is to life itself.
Adapted from “Jesus’ Blueprint For Prayer” by Haddon Robinson. Part of the Discovery Series published by RBC Ministries in Grand Rapids, MI. Copyright 1989. 2002.
J.D. Griffith
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