Day 18: As We Also
The power of the Lord’s Prayer is that is not passive. It is a constant pushing forward into activity. It is never leaving us without something to do, but it is only doing that is understood from being and abiding. As Jesus continues to teach His disciples to pray, He is beautifully and graciously leading them to a position of this understanding.
More times than not I hear people only refer to the covering properties and power of grace as if it is some magic eraser that clears only our sin stained walls. The reality is that the grace of God is not just covering for us—which it is, and it is primary to this next point—it is also empowering for us. The grace of God is a gift that is given that we do not deserve or earn. It is us speeding down the freeway, getting pulled over by a highway patrol officer, and instead of being given a speeding ticket, we are given a check for $10,000. Here’s the beauty of that grace: it is not just for our frivolous or convenient spending, it is rather for our distribution and generous extension to others as well.
When we pray as our Lord did, “as we also,” we are aligning ourselves with the empowering grace of God that doesn’t sit back in passivity or even aggressive passivity. It is an alignment that calls us forward into action. It is a difficult and yet gloriously rewarding lifestyle that is committed to the original covenantal blessing our Lord: I will bless you to be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:1-3).
The goal of this prayer is to step outside of the radical individualism of our culture and to embrace the reality that this prayer is both intimate and corporate. It is the practice of speaking the things that we will do, just as our Savior exampled. Jesus never spoke anything He had done, was doing, or was going to do. His Word does not return to Him void, and He empowers us to pray and live in the same manner. As we pray “as we also” today, I would encourage you to do so in remembrance that God’s grace has covered and empowered you to not just receive but to give. Amen.
Action: Some days it is easy to just receive in passivity for ourselves. It is more convenient to not look at the person asking for money on the side of the road. It is ‘better’ for us to avoid that one person. It is much ‘healthier’ for us to make sure only we are good with God. The grace of God speaks beyond each one of these lies and reminds us that He has covered and empowered us to align with His activity. When you find yourself stepping back to those places of passivity, pray, Abba, align me with Your empowering grace.
