Tag: Luke

Why pray The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer
Christians pray these words exactly as written or may use them as a model or outline for prayer. They are prayed during church services and in private devotions.

Matthew 6:9-13, NIV 

(Jesus said)

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

give us this day our daily bread
social graphic from Lightstock.com, an affiliate link

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Lord’s Prayer

This passage from Matthew may be the most quoted from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Although traditionally called the “Lord’s Prayer”, it might also be called the disciples’ prayer.

In the book of Luke, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.

various types of bread

Forgive us our sins,for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

Christians pray these words exactly as written (although there are now many different Bible translations and paraphrases), or may use them as a model or outline for prayer. They are prayed during church services and in private devotions.

woman with hands bowed in prayer
man praying on holy bible in the morning
man praying on holy bible in the morning
Why pray the Lord's prayer

The Lord’s Prayer has been set to music in various forms. A family friend sung it at my wedding. Some choose it for funerals or memorial services.

Singers ranging from amateur to professional have recorded The Lord’s Prayer in multiple languages. I enjoyed this Kenyan choir singing it in English.

Umoja English choir, Nairobi, Kenya 

In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes,

“Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread. Have you ever noticed that children ask for lunch in utter confidence that it will be provided. Children do not find it difficult or complicated to talk to their parents, nor do they feel embarrassed to bring the simplest need to their attention. Neither should we hesitate to bring the simplest requests confidently to the Father.”

The Lord’s Prayer at iTunes 

The song has been recorded by a diverse group of artists including Andrea Bocelli, Susan Boyle, Barbra Streisand, Jackie Evancho, Elvis Presley. 

Find these and others at iTunes.

Itunes lrg f870299f99c48616f0cea96f29b076d24f47eeb4810e15dbe68bbf991d157081

With your use of these affiliate links, this blog earns a commission to support the HEART of health.

The Lord's Prayer record album
The Lord’s Prayer 

Share your thoughts about The Lord’s Prayer

What does The Lord’s Prayer mean to you? Do you pray it, or use it as a guide to prayer? Please share your thoughts about this powerful prayer.

wooden plaque available at Amazon

exploring the HEART of prayer

Please visit some other posts with words of faith, hope, and love from the Sermon on the Mount.

                            Dr. Aletha  Faith, Love, Hope

Opportunities to do good

The surprising blessing of discomfort

How to be blessed, happy, and healthy

How to satisfy hunger and thirst

5 lessons learned when the lights went out

THE GREATEST PRAYER

And the good Samaritan is…

Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan to answer the question,

“Who is my neighbor?”

The term “good Samaritan” means a person who goes out of their way to help someone, especially a stranger, often at  personal sacrifice.

Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan to answer the question,

“Who is my neighbor?”

The term “good Samaritan” means a person who goes out of their way to help someone, especially a stranger, often at  personal sacrifice.

 

 

 

Samaritan’s Purse doctor treating a victim of the Nepal earthquake via Images of Disaster From Nepal.

 

 

The Parable (Story)  of the Good Samaritan

 Luke chapter 10, NIV

 Jesus said: 

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper.

‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 

Jesus asked them ,

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

a bowl of tomato soup
Photo by Foodie Factor on Pexels.com
Photo by Lgh_9 on Pexels.com
Photo by Lgh_9 on Pexels.com
Photo by Alexandria Baldridge on Pexels.com
Photo by Alexandria Baldridge on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

 

I think the parable also answers the question “Who  gives health care?”

The story doesn’t mention doctors, nurses, or other  medical professionals  but many health care facilities and charitable organizations use the name “good Samaritan” .

 

Health care includes a variety of acts that contribute to health and well being such as

  • donate food to a local food bank
  • deliver meals to housebound persons
  • coach sports teams
  • donate clothes, blankets and toiletries to a homeless shelter
  • take an animal to visit residents of a nursing home
  • help with clean up after a natural disaster
  • learning and using CPR
  • teaching a child to ride a bicycle or swim
  • helping a special needs child ride a horse
  • taking soup to a sick friend
  • driving a disabled person to a medical appointment

 

In a sermon about the good Samaritan,

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said,

“I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

 

Health care, whether done by professionals or laypersons, asks the same question-

“What will happen if I don’t stop to help?”

Learn more about the work of Samaritan’s Purse and consider what you might do to help support its work.

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting and exploring the HEART of health with me through words of faith, hope, and love and join me in sharing the HEART of health.

                        Dr. Aletha