十月二十九日
你们祷告要这样说：我们在天上的父……（太6：9）
一切真正的祷告都应当这样开头：“我们…的父。”因爲我们与天父是父子关系，自当表明我们爲后嗣的地位。我们若不说“我要起来到我父亲那里去”，我们的祷告是不会蒙悦纳的。这种像小孩子的心情使我们明白“在天上”的父是多麽威严．因此献上我们虔诚的崇拜说“尊你的名爲圣”。小孩子口口吃吃的“阿爸，父！”渐长而爲基路伯的“圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！”欢呼敬拜与热诚宣道相距仅有一步，因爲爱敬父神所以祷告说：“愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。”其次便由衷心之内透露出我们依赖神的心：“我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。”圣灵再光照，就知道我们不单是靠赖神，而且也感到自己有罪，因此需要神的怜悯说：“免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。”
蒙神赦免之后，便得了基督的义，知道已被神所悦纳，再谦卑地求神的保佑：“不叫我们遇见试探。”真正得了赦免的人，便不敢再犯罪；得称爲义的人便要追求成圣。“免我们的债”是称义；“不叫我们遇见试探，救我们脱离凶恶，便是成圣的消极与积极两方面。这一切之后便是得胜的颂赞：“国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们。”我们欢乐，因爲我们的王有大能、有恩典，他的国度直到地极没有止境。因此，开头感到我们是神的后嗣，末了便跟随掌王权的主，这一个短短的模范祷告，指引我们的心灵。主啊！求你这样教我们祷告。
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.
