David Bahn – Reflections

Matthew 6:9

Pray then like this:

What if every time you are faced with a decision – moral, ethical, or otherwise – you sought to honor God’s name? What if every time you were ready to go to work you had in mind how you were going to honor God’s name? What if every time you took a day off, went on vacation, invited friends over, or went to a ball game, you considered how your words and actions would honor (or dishonor!) God’s name?

Sometimes our prayers are shaped by the urgent needs we face. Sometimes we overflow in prayers of praise to God for his goodness and blessings. Sometimes we pray as a discipline. Always our prayers ought to seek to honor God.

That would not mean we don’t call to him in our distress, or that we would exempt ourselves from his help in needs for daily bread, wisdom, health, or our life’s path. It means that we would seek to honor God in every decision we make and every prayer we pray.

When we take no ethical shortcuts in the face of opportunities or needs we honor God’s name. When we put others first and trust God to take care of us, we honor God’s name. When we look to him for wisdom, help, grace, and hope we honor God’s name. This is the first priority of those who call God “Father.”

Matthew 6:1-15

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

²  “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹  Pray then like this:

¹⁴  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.