We’ve been working through Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer in the Passion Translation.

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” (Luke 11.1 – 4, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

There’s a direct prayer: rescue us! Rescue us every time we face tribulations. And we will face tribulations. 

The prayer is for rescue. Rescue us every time. Yesterday’s rescue doesn’t count. It’s a continuous prayer for continuous rescue. 

Many are in various tribulations right now:

• COVID and COVID restrictions
• Cities with violent protest
• Serious illness: at least two close Navigator friends have serious cancer, for example

Whatever the tribulation, large or small, let’s make prayer the first line of attack.

Rescue us every time we face tribulations. (Luke 11.4, Passion Translation)

“In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33, NKJV)

We’ve been working through Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer in the Passion Translation.

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” (Luke 11.1 – 4, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

I like “as we ourselves release forgiveness…” It reminds me of what I read years ago in The Renewed Mind by Larry Christianson. Larry was making the case that texts like Matthew 18.18 imply that our forgiving people has power.

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18.18, ESV)

Larry points out that Stephen forgives Saul of Tarsus as he was dying:

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution. (Acts 7.59, 60, 8.1, ESV)

Saul is forgiven by Stephen at the end of Acts 7 and the beginning of Acts 8. You don’t have to go to seminary to know that Acts 8 comes before Acts 9. And what happens in Acts 9? Saul comes to faith in Jesus on the road to Damascus!

I get goose bumps every time I tell that story. We need to be people who “release forgiveness.”

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18.21, 22, ESV)

We’ve been working through Luke’s version of the Lord’s prayer in the Passion Translation.

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” (Luke 11.1 – 4, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

“Give us our needed bread for the coming day.” This is the way our pastor, George Hunsberger, taught it almost 50 years ago. It’s not just bread although that’s certainly included. George explained that in “give us this day our daily bread,” the daily could be translated “bread for tomorrow.” It’s Kingdom bread. The strength we need to live out the Kingdom.

Manifest your Kingdom on earth and give me what I need to help bring it about, to live into it.

Here’s the Passion footnote:

This is more than asking for food, for Jesus has taught us not to worry about the needs of our body. It is the request for tomorrow’s living bread to come and feed us today. (Passion Translation footnote to Luke 11.3)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1.3, 4, ESV)

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.” (Luke 11.1 – 4, Passion Translation, emphasis mine)

Today’s let’s look at “Manifest your Kingdom on earth,” and let it start with me. Cleansing my sin (from yesterday’s meditation), then helping me live into the kingdom. What might that look like?

One way the Kingdom might come is when the King “drives out into his harvest fields many more workers.” Workers who do all kinds of things. For example:

• Feed the poor. (Am I giving to my brother in need? (1 John 3.17, 18)
• Enable the poor to not be poor through business loans. (Can I make another Kiva loan?)
• Set up companies in closed countries by which relationships can be established and the gospel can be lived out.

With respect to that last point, Eddie Broussard of The Navigators’ International team tells the story of an American lady working in an unnamed Muslim country in Eurasia, asking forgiveness of someone she’d offended unwittingly. It’s worth the read.

Here’s the key point – right out of the middle of the story:

Mary [the American wife of the CEO of a business], who had done nothing wrong, nevertheless saw all that was at stake. She stepped out in obedient faith to contact Ellen [a worker she had unintentionally offended], but her phone calls were ignored. So, Mary went to Ellen’s house. When Ellen opened the door, Mary literally got down on her knees and asked Ellen for forgiveness. On her knees. In Muslim Eurasia, this never happens. A CEO’s wife, a woman helping to lead a business, would never do this with an employee. Humility is not part of the cultural ethos. Positional authority in business trumps authentic, relational trust. Those at the top of the power structures almost never say they are sorry or admit error. Ellen was shocked…

Humility. We want our rights. The gospel is about giving up our rights, and the Kingdom is manifest when we live out the gospel. 

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron… After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. (John 13.3 – 5, 12 – 15, MSG)

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. (Philippians 2.5 – 8, MSG)

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. (1 Corinthians 2.1 – 3, ESV)

We started thinking yesterday on the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Luke 11.1 – 4 in The Passion Translation. Here it is, word for word, just with bullets added to set off the six (in this translation) requests:

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.”

Today’s meditation is on the second request:

May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. (Luke 11.2, Passion Translation)

This request is not in most translations. The Passion translator’s footnote says that it’s found in several of the oldest Greek manuscripts.

Cleansing. When I first read this I was in the process of pressure washing my driveway, preparing it for sealing. I knew some parts were very dirty, and it was fun to see them come clean. Other parts didn’t look all that dirty UNTIL the pressure spray hit them. And there it was: a clean streak showing that the area around it was, in fact, also needing…cleansing.

God cares about cleansing and provides us multiple means. Check out these verses, emphases mine:

• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. (Luke 11.2, Passion Translation)
• But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1.7, ESV)
• Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (John 15.3, ESV)
• …Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word… (Ephesians 5.25, 26, ESV)

I’ve been meditating lately on the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Luke 11.1 – 4 in The Passion Translation. Here it is, word for word, just with bullets added to set off the six (in this translation) requests:

One day, as Jesus was in prayer, one of his disciples came over to him as he finished and said, “Would you teach us a model prayer that we can pray, just like John did for his disciples?” So Jesus taught them this prayer: 

• “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns.
• May your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us.
• Manifest your kingdom on earth.
• And give us our needed bread for the coming day.
• Forgive our sins as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us.
• And rescue us every time we face tribulations.”

Over the next few days I may write a little something on each of these, beginning now with the first one:

May the glory of your name be the center on which our life turns. (Luke 11.2, Passion Translation)

Here was my impression: it’s beautiful, but what would that look like? Then I realized, it’s a prayer! I don’t have to know what it looks like! All I have to do is pray it, and maybe over time, God will show me what that looks like in my life.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.16, NIV)

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3.18, NIV)

I hope you saw Wesley’s rules for voting from yesterday’s blog. They are worth another look:

Wesley’s rules, written in 1774, are as appropriate today as then.

• Vote for the person you judge most worthy
• Speak no evil of the person you voted against
• Take care your spirits are not sharpened against those that voted on the other side

Today, Seth Godin’s blog echoes the theme. Here it is in its entirety:

You can be agreeable without agreeing. In fact, most of the time, we’d rather spend time with people who have a different point of view but are willing to be agreeable nonetheless. It’s far better than the alternative. – Seth Godin, October 9, 2020

I repeat Paul’s instruction to Timothy from last week’s blog about Kindness and Thoughtful Listening:

Stay away from all the foolish arguments of the immature, for these disputes will only generate more conflict. For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes. (2 Timothy 2.23 – 26, Passion Translation)

Some things are too good not to share. My friend, Dr. Bob Kaylor, lead pastor of Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church, and a leader in the Wesley Covenant Association, has led his church to produce the best election yard sign ever. Wait for it…

These rules, written in 1774, are as appropriate today as then.

• Vote for the person you judge most worthy
• Speak no evil of the person you voted against
• Take care your spirits are not sharpened against those that voted on the other side

And if you think they’re not appropriate because, after all, “our side” represents the will of God and anyone disagreeing can’t possibly be following Jesus, please see my blog Following Jesus? written on January 7, 2020.

Pastor Kaylor’s purpose in producing these signs is to “…inject some wisdom, civility, and compassion into the [political] conversation.” A worthy goal. If you want to order signs for yourself or your church, please go here.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. (Romans 12.16, NIV)

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13.1, NIV)

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (1 Peer 2.13 – 17, NIV)

I love it when things and people work as you want them to! After my friend Henry’s warning of a dishwasher shortage when I reported my dishwasher breakdown back on September 18 (see comment), I was mildly concerned. But when the repairman told me how much to fix the existing washer, I opted for a new one (if I could find one!). The lady at Home Depot couldn’t have been nicer, and we found a dishwasher with the #1 criterion: in stock. 10 days later, two nice young men delivered and installed the new one, and everything works.

And works is the key word. A team of people had to build the machine (with materials provided by other teams). Home Depot had to have a system in place for finding it, paying for it, and scheduling delivery. Then the delivery/installation guys had to know what they were doing. All had a good attitude. They acted like they enjoyed their work, and I hope they know they were performing a useful and important service. Because even though we can and did get along without a dishwasher, we are thankful to have one again!

God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six. (Genesis 1.31, MSG)

Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life…Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! (Ecclesiastes 5.18, 19, MSG, emphasis mine)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5.18, NKJV)

I’ve been thinking a lot about MARGIN and its importance in doing what God wants us to do. And in the spirit of “give a small boy a hammer and everything looks like a nail” I’m seeing margin in this familiar story:

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha.Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” (Luke 10.38 – 42, Passion Translation)

I have often used this as an application of priorities: Mary had hers right, and Martha didn’t. But it could also be viewed through the lens of margin. Martha was living with no margin. “We have a lot to do, and it has to be done NOW!” Jesus and Mary are living with margin. “All that stuff will get done eventually, but we need to talk right now.” Both Mary and Martha are in the same situation, but Mary chooses to believe she has margin (time) to talk with Jesus.

I shared this observation with my friend, Montgomery, Alabama-based lobbyist and licensed local pastor Pat McWhorter, the other day, and Pat told me a story that went something like this:

I was accompanying an Alabama judge on a trip. We were in the Phoenix airport, I think, changing planes, and we were walking quickly through the concourse. Suddenly, the judge took a hard left, nearly knocking me over since I was on his left. Turns out there was a young mother bending over her baby in a stroller, and the mother and baby were in some kind of distress. The judge went over to see if he could help. The judge could have been like me, intent on catching our flight, thinking about his upcoming meetings with CEOs and other high-level officials, but he saw someone in need and stopped.

Pat attributed the judge’s action to his compassion and the fact that his antenna was up for what was going on around him. I would also add margin. Like Mary and Martha, Pat and the judge were in the same situation: in the airport with a plane to catch. Pat, like Martha, assumed no margin. The judge lived as if he had margin to help people. 

Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. (John 9.1, MSG)

Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him. (Matthew 9.9, MSG)