(L,M,P)B...
Illustration
(L,M,P)
It was the first time for Grandma to stay overnight with her son and his wife and her only grandchild, four-year-old Jeff. It was also a first time for her to babysit her grandson while Jeff's parents went out for the evening. Grandma especially looked forward to sharing prayers with Jeff at bedtime. When he was ready to crawl in, Jeff knelt down beside his bed and prayed, "God bless Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and me, we four, no more."
Grandma was shocked. We are shocked. But doesn't Jeff praying sound at least a little familiar? Doesn't his prayer reflect common prayer priorities? -- the narrowness of his vision, the limits of his praying, his preoccupation with his own little world, the content of his request -- don't those ring familiar bells? Contrary to the model of the Our Father our Lord gave us, we know well the "gimme, gimme syndrome." Even our prayers of intercession ask for the success and happiness of others before other vital needs.
This lesson is a magnificent illustration of Christian prayer priorities, as the apostle spells out what it is he prays for the Ephesian Christians when he "remembers them in his prayers" (v. 16). The content of his request, preceded by "giving thanks," centers on knowledge, faith and experience of Christ and his Body for the Ephesian Church. First things first!
-- Anton
It was the first time for Grandma to stay overnight with her son and his wife and her only grandchild, four-year-old Jeff. It was also a first time for her to babysit her grandson while Jeff's parents went out for the evening. Grandma especially looked forward to sharing prayers with Jeff at bedtime. When he was ready to crawl in, Jeff knelt down beside his bed and prayed, "God bless Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and me, we four, no more."
Grandma was shocked. We are shocked. But doesn't Jeff praying sound at least a little familiar? Doesn't his prayer reflect common prayer priorities? -- the narrowness of his vision, the limits of his praying, his preoccupation with his own little world, the content of his request -- don't those ring familiar bells? Contrary to the model of the Our Father our Lord gave us, we know well the "gimme, gimme syndrome." Even our prayers of intercession ask for the success and happiness of others before other vital needs.
This lesson is a magnificent illustration of Christian prayer priorities, as the apostle spells out what it is he prays for the Ephesian Christians when he "remembers them in his prayers" (v. 16). The content of his request, preceded by "giving thanks," centers on knowledge, faith and experience of Christ and his Body for the Ephesian Church. First things first!
-- Anton
