Lord’s Prayer Sample

The Official’s Call

Matthew 6:10, Luke 22:42

When we play baseball, we know officials are there to enforce the rules and make the calls. Umpires and referees make calls as they see them. They do what they think is right and fair. But we may see the play differently. We may have a different idea of what’s right and fair. Have you ever disagreed with the game official’s call? What do you do in a situation like that? What do you not do in a situation like that?

your will be done.
Matthew 6:10a

What would it be like if Jesus was on earth and ruled over the whole world? Jesus would have the power to say, “This is the way I see it. This is the way it’s going to be.” When we pray to our heavenly dad and ask, “your will be done” we are asking God to do what he thinks is right and fair. Think about your prayers. When we talk to God, how many of us are trying to tell him what we think is right and fair? Most of us think we have an understanding of what is right and fair. We ask God to do what we think he should do. And if he doesn’t, we may get mad. Our prayers sometimes demand “my will be done” rather than ask “your will be done.”

What helps you accept the official’s call when you wish it was different? There was a time when Jesus accepted a call he wished was different. He wasn’t playing baseball. He was about to be arrested, whipped, and nailed to a cross to die. Jesus was upset so he prayed to his heavenly dad, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.” Luke 22:42 His father’s answer was that Jesus must go through this suffering. This is what it means to pray that the will of our heavenly dad be done. When we pray to God and tell him what we want, we trust our heavenly dad knows what’s right and fair better than we do. Why did Jesus accept this call? Jesus suffered on the cross so we wouldn’t have to. Our heavenly dad planned it this way to save us from the punishment of sin. That’s how much he loves us.

PRAY

Heavenly Dad, it’s because of you that we have life. It is because of Jesus
that we can have forever life in heaven. We want to accept what you say is right and fair.
If the whole world accepted what you say is right and fair, what an amazing place this would be. Amen.