Sunday 24 July, 2022

Reflection:  "Master Pray-er"

Hosea 1:2-10

Psalm 85

Luke 11:1-13

Colossians 2:6-15

Like the many of the self-help classes we see on TV, called various things like MasterChef, Renovation this or that, etc., today we’re going to have a master class in prayer.
And today’s lesson in praying comes from an expert, our Christ and Saviour, Jesus ben Joseph.
 
I understand how some people could easily become frustrated and disappointed with praying.
It might not seem to be working for them - and maybe some of you are in that same position.
 
Thousands of years ago the disciples came to Jesus asking: “Master, teach us to pray.” 
He dealt with their question in three phases.
 
First: he gave an example of prayer (we now call it the Lord’s Prayer).
I guess that many of us are so used to it, that it’s sometimes hard to look at it afresh.
But if we make the effort, we’ll notice two things:
·       It is incredibly brief, and yet
·       It is remarkably broad.
 
Now that’s something!
During my life, there have been times when I’ve suffered from some marathon pray-ers.
I don’t know who holds the record for the longest prayer in the Guinness Book of Records, but I suspect that some of the long-winded contestants that I’ve known, would at least get an honourable mention.
Sincere they may have been, but one needed hard training to survive the experience of being a witness to the event.
 
In contrast, Jesus covered everything in about 30 seconds - now that’s what I call brief!
Only one who’s supremely qualified can offer that concentrated wisdom, yet it’s also very broad.
There’s nothing narrow, limited, or introverted about it.
Let’s look at how much ground Jesus covered.
 
Firstly: his prayer is God-centred, not self-centred.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
This puts God first - here we have worship, not religious self-indulgence.
 
Secondly: the prayer expresses hope and concern for the world.
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as in heaven.”
This lifts us above immediate frustration and petty wants, to the ultimate wellbeing of all.
 
Thirdly: now we come to a request that we may possess the basic necessities for existence.
“Give us today our daily bread.”
It’s a prayer for the basics, not for luxuries.
Remember that it says: “us”, not “me”, so it’s a prayer for the world family, not a request for our own needs.
This is very unlike some of the “want lists”, that sometimes sneak into our prayers.
 
Fourthly:  It looks at our own spiritual needs. 
After the request for basic physical necessities, comes one for our spiritual, personal needs:
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  
We seek the mercy of God to set us free, to liberate from us from both the crippling burden of our own sins, and from the self-inflicted damage which is the inevitable consequence of nursing grudges against others.
 
Fifthly:  May God have pity on our weakness.
The final words are a cry from the depths of the human heart; a recognition of our frailty in the face of temptations:
“Don’t put us to the test, but deliver us from evil”.
We pray to be saved from both the blatant temptations, as well as the subtle ones that are always at hand.
 
Remember I said it took Jesus about 30 seconds to say this brief prayer?
Ironically, it has taken me a lot of time to make these few comments about it!
 
The second lesson in this master class comes in the form of a story.
At midnight, a man has an unexpected guest arrive, seeking hospitality, but there’s no food in the larder.
The man has a neighbour, who is a good friend, one he feels he can dare go to in the middle of the night.
So he goes and knocks on his friend’s door, waking the poor fellow up.
His neighbour is not exactly thrilled to be dragged from his bed and he tries to send his friend away.
Nevertheless, because of the impudence of the request and the fact that the request is for a guest, he gives his neighbour the bread he’s asked for.
 
“There!” says Jesus. “Ask, seek, knock.... at any time of day or night - you won’t be ignored by God.”
 
It’s important to note that in this story, an analogy for prayer, the request is not for himself, but for another.
The midnight prayer is for a needy traveller and there is nothing selfish here.
It’s for the needs of other travellers through life, for whom we are told to ask, seek and knock on God’s door.
The story is not about nagging God for more goodies for ourselves, but about loving others.
 
The third lesson from the Master pivots on the words: “How much more”. 
Jesus talks about being a good parent.
If a child asks for a fish to eat, a parent will not give them a snake.
Similarly, if an egg is requested, the good parent will not put a stone on the child’s plate. etc.
 
Contaminated by evil though we are, we know how to give good food to our children.
“If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give.”
 
You’ll notice again that Jesus is talking about basics.
Good food, not luxuries for the over-pampered.
Fish and eggs were the main source of protein in the common person’s diet. Not barramundi or coral trout, but plain stubby little fish from Lake Galilee; the ones now called St Peter fish.
And eggs - not caviar, but common hen’s eggs - basics.
 
“How much more will your heavenly Father give to those who ask him.”
Please note that the precious gift God supplies will be much better than the basics:
 
But maybe we don’t always want more of the right things from God, as we should.
Sometimes we want more of our own plans and purposes, ambitions, comforts, pride, stubbornness and ego.
 
Maybe we’re afraid that if we have more of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we may need to change in unpalatable ways. Perhaps we prefer our religion in moderation, rather than a full dose, and therefore we limit the depth of our asking.
How much more is God ready to do for you?
 
Maybe the daily times of prayer are not as difficult as we thought. Not as onerous.
If any of us find praying a task or a duty, then the cause may actually be a lack of self-honesty.
Could it be that we don’t really want to learn the lessons Jesus has given us?
Or maybe we’re reluctant to embrace the risks involved in asking God for more of the Holy Spirit?
 
The answers God gives us to our prayers are not always the ones we’re expecting, but that doesn’t mean he’s not listening to us and that we should stop communicating with him. 
 
Do your times of prayer feel rewarding and satisfying, or do you find it a chore that you tend to put off?
I hope that these thoughts assist you and make your time alone with God an enriching experience.
 
My best advice is ……… keep praying……… God is ready to take your call.

​Pastor Rick