Finding Your People in a Crowded World
Just Two Words?
If you could edit Jesus’ already brief Lord’s Prayer down to two words, what would you choose? Just two!? For me it would be …
"OUR FATHER"
It catches me quite often. It seems the older I get the more frequently I pray the Lord’s Prayer, and so frequently those first two words stop me in my tracks. It’s not simply my prayer, but me rejoining with a great cloud of believers who are drawn to each other as we live the cross and seek out the cross.
Can you imagine all the people in the world who are being drawn to Jesus, and as they pray and come towards his cross, they are being drawn to each other?
Jesus Had Some Nerve
He is a Messiah who calls his followers “friends". What!? And just when that sends you reeling with the thought that, little ol’ me from Bellbrook, Ohio is a friend of Jesus … It seems Jesus goes even further … Through his sacrifice and gifting grace he makes us “family.” A shared Father!? The gift and presence of Jesus in you makes you into a plural you—you are now part of a family bond you didn’t get to choose, but what matters is who chose you, and how you have been adopted into royalty!
We're All Related!
That plumber who comes to your house to fix that crisis, whistling Amazing Grace, is really your brother. Your hair stylist who goes on and on about her church, and why she loves it … is your sister. The guy next to you volunteering at the food bank, who mentions he’s there because of a church mission … you’re not simply side-by-side … you’re related!
So, let’s review how Jesus teaches us to pray:
Was it “Dear private Savior … ?”
No.
Was it “Dear denominational Messiah …?”
No.
Was it “My issue-champion Jesus …?”
No.
Was it “My personal Shepherd Savior who died just for me …?”
No, not only just for you!
Jesus teaches us, all of us, to pray:
“Our Father … “
Pray Today
Pray the Lord’s Prayer and with meditation soak in that “Our Father …”. And for extra credit flip over to John 17 … Marvel at how Jesus does both, teaches us how to pray in a spirit of unity, and then actually prays for our unity!
Prayer: “Jesus, I think of a Christian I know who follows you but in a different way than me. I pray for a believer for whom I struggle to understand. Give me your love for them and show me what I can learn from them. Make us one, Lord? As we draw close to you, may we move closer to one another. For your praise and glory and love, Jesus. Amen.”
Pastor Andrew Ross
J17 Ministries Board Member
