The Next Key to the Kingdom

The Next Key in our Series: The Keys to the Kingdom as Revealed in The Lord's Prayer -

It would be normative to proceed to the next petition in “The Lord’s Prayer,” that is, “forgive us our debts (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us), but we will hold this portion in abeyance for now and proceed to the next couplet – “Give us this day our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from (the) evil (one).

Unfortunately, some people approach these requests almost as if one has to beg or to plead for the Father’s provision. Rather, we should approach these as prayers of thanksgiving! In Philippians 4:6 Paul instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Later, in v. 19, he declares, “And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The Father does not begrudge us our needs; rather, according to Jesus, He gives us “good things” when we ask Him (Matt. 7:11). Just as an earthly father, as imperfect as we earthly fathers are (“evil” in comparison to God! – v. 11a) knows how to meet the needs of our children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask (11b).”
In Philippians 4:19 Paul declares his absolute faith in the Father’s gracious provision when he shares, “And my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)

The Father, who is pure and holy, also would never lead us into temptation or into the clutches of (the) evil (one). This is made so very clear to us by James sho instructs us, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone” (James 1:13).

Further, after clarifying that our temptations that lead to our sinful behavior is rooted solely in our own desires and our willingness to be drawn into sin by those desires, James declares that what we do receive from God is of tremendous benefit and blessing: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (1:17-18).

Praise You, Father! Thank You for Your chesed (loving-kindness), Your faithfulness to us in every dimension of life, Your patience with us, and You long-suffering with our fleshly weaknesses. Thank You for being a Loving Father who delights to provide for and to bless us!