Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-07-20
Sunday School
LESSON FOR JULY -.

Jesus Teaching How to Pray.-Luk'
II :1-13. Learn verses 8, 10. Read Lux
10 :1.23, 3S42; IS lila.
Golden Text.-Lord, teach us to pray
Luke II i.
The disciples were accustomed to pray
ing, for habits of prayer had been instlii
ed into tie Jewish nation by the fatri
archs, the Esalmists and the prophets
Why was it, then, that the disciples q:
Jesus thought they. needed to learn II
pray: 1t must have been, for one thing!
because prayers had become formal, and
because they perceived what a different
thing prayer was to Jesus from what 1t
was to themselves. They could not have
been constantly with Him for a few
weeks even without learning hat prayer
was a necessity of His life, and that He
used it in ways and for purposes that
they had not.
When they requested to be taught to
pray, it is likely that the disciples expect
ed to be given a set prayer that they could
use just as it was given them. They
| did not feel able to compose a prayer that
would meet all needs.
Jesus gave them a prayer that could be
used as He uttered it, and has been so
used ever since. 1t is the prayer that all
the Christian world knows. 1t is the
| prayer that is an epitomc of all true pray
er, or, perhaps it would be better to say
that all prayers should be modelled after
it, in spirit at least. For though by
itself it is a wonderful prayer its great
purpose was to illustrate the subject OF
prayer, showing us what prayer is and
can do. Matthew'S account says: After
this manner therefore pray ye.' That
evidently does not mean that we are al
ways to ASK for SO many very different
things. For Jesus Himself made one long
prayer that we know of, in which He
confined Himself to one great thought.
Father, g!orify Thy Son, that the Son
may glorify Thee" He cried, and the
whole prayer was an amplification of this
request. Christ was to be glOritied and
God was to be glorified in Him through
the perfecring of His work and of His
character in His disciples.
The expression after this manner has
reference rather to the spirit to be shown
in prayer; and it is, therefore, to discov-
er, and have borne in upon us, the spirit
in which we should pray, that we must
study the Lords Prayer.
To begin with, our proper attitude to-
ward God in prayer is clearly set forth
i'll the manner of address. In Luke's mar
rative the prayer begins in the X. V. with
the petition, Father, Hallowed be Thy
name" This gives a more vivid sense of
the personality and presence of God than
the more formal and comprehensive be-
ginning OF the prayer in Matthew. We
must come right up to God, so to speak,
as little children come to a loving parent.
The little child finds himself in a very
strange world, a world that he is only be-
ginning to know about, and he recognizes
the need OF a superior wisdom to help
over the difficulties he encounters and
TO solve the problems that puzzle him. 1t
is so thai we must com before God in
prayer. That word Father implies that
we are to look up to God trustingly and
lovingly. We are to expect that He will
help us perhaps not in the way that we
think best. but in the way that He knows
to be best.
We are also to identify ourselves with
Gods family in another way. We must
belong to Him not only for what we hope
to receive, but for what we can give. We
can give love. We can desire, as God
does, that His name may be revered, and
that His Kingdom may come throughout
the worl l. Even little children may be
taught to give sympathy to their parents,
and in so far as they can appreciate their
parents aims and difficulties they may
show themselves thoughtful and helpful.
And we must learn to think of what God
wishes and to wish it with Him, and SO
our Loving affection toward Him.
AS to our own wants, what are they!
what should they be? and what may we
ask God to do for us? The last part of
this illustrative prayer Is to show US these
things.
And, in che first place, we notice that
all our needs in the matter of things
come under the prayer for daily bread.
Jesus evident intention was to show us
that we may, and must, pray for these
things thai are real needs, bat not for
tgs thai world serve no other purpose
than 10 crafty oar selGsh desires. Or
lessen our need Of faith in God as our
proyider. We are 20 be dependent upon
Him day by day II IL not for oar real
welfare that ne should be made indie
pendent, or 10 feel ourselves independent.
The lesson CLOSES with a parable in
tended to teach iHsisience IN prayer. We
are TO prsy AZ though we expected, and
we're determined, 10 be heard. Not that
God ~ no. anxious 70 give MS all good
things, blu. we rnast show that we really
want what W. ask for. and that we are in
earnest 70 trying to get 1t, and that we
believe God hears prayer. Then. when
our prayef IL granted we shall be more
grateful and sppreciatlyc.