Return To Sender

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:7-15)

We say it all the time.  It might be our most common prayer.  Perhaps we say it so often that we forget its meaning.  It’s a blueprint about how we are to live our lives.  It speaks of forgiveness: giving and receiving.  It speaks of the now and not later; that is, don’t wait for time in heaven. Act now when alive as we walk this earth – not buried in it. 

Importantly, we are to focus on the many temptations to do evil – to become evil.   We ask God, our Father, to deliver us from evil.  It’s a reasonable request, but it’s best for us simply not to accept the Devil’s deliveries left on our doorsteps.  We make the choice not to open those pretty packages filled with deceit, greed, corruption, lies, bigotry, racism, and the like.  Return to sender.

Deacon David Pierce