十月二十九日

你們禱告要這樣說：我們在天上的父……（太6：9）

一切真正的禱告都應當這樣開頭：“我們…的父。”因爲我們與天父是父子關係，自當表明我們爲後嗣的地位。我們若不說“我要起來到我父親那裏去”，我們的禱告是不會蒙悅納的。這種像小孩子的心情使我們明白“在天上”的父是多麽威嚴．因此獻上我們虔誠的崇拜說“尊你的名爲聖”。小孩子口口吃吃的“阿爸，父！”漸長而爲基路伯的“聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！”歡呼敬拜與熱誠宣道相距僅有一步，因爲愛敬父神所以禱告說：“願你的國降臨。願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。”其次便由衷心之內透露出我們依賴神的心：“我們日用的飲食，今日賜給我們。”聖靈再光照，就知道我們不單是靠賴神，而且也感到自己有罪，因此需要神的憐憫說：“免我們的債，如同我們免了人的債。”

蒙神赦免之後，便得了基督的義，知道已被神所悅納，再謙卑地求神的保佑：“不叫我們遇見試探。”真正得了赦免的人，便不敢再犯罪；得稱爲義的人便要追求成聖。“免我們的債”是稱義；“不叫我們遇見試探，救我們脫離凶惡，便是成聖的消極與積極兩方面。這一切之後便是得勝的頌贊：“國度、權柄、榮耀，全是你的，直到永遠。阿們。”我們歡樂，因爲我們的王有大能、有恩典，他的國度直到地極沒有止境。因此，開頭感到我們是神的後嗣，末了便跟隨掌王權的主，這一個短短的模範禱告，指引我們的心靈。主啊！求你這樣教我們禱告。

October 29

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, etc."--Matthew 6:9

This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence, with the spirit of adoption, "Our Father." There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, "I will arise, and go unto my Father." This child-like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father "in heaven," and ascends to devout adoration, "Hallowed be thy name." The child lisping, "Abba, Father," grows into the cherub crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy." There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure outgrowth of filial love and reverent adoration--"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God--"Give us this day our daily bread." Being further illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful, hence he entreats for mercy, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:" and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance, "Lead us not into temptation." The man who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. "Forgive us our debts," that is justification; "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," that is sanctification in its negative and positive forms. As the result of all this, there follows a triumphant ascription of praise, "Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen." We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends of the earth, and of his dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray.