Milford chronicle., 1924-10-17
IS THE LORDS
PRAYER PRACTICAL? ?

n Many people think the sermon (
o the Mount is a beautiful standar
e but set at a height impossible f,
s human nature, except in rare case
e to reach. The Lords Prayer, whiC
we study today, does set a hig
e mark. Is it an impossible standard
Was Jesus an impractical Visiol
ary when he expected people to rea
, ize such a standard of life? Fr,
quently the Lords Prayer is repeat
ed with no careful consideration {
its meaning. Just before Jseus CAV
this prayer to the disciples he sal
to them, when you pray, do nc
talk with meaningless repetition q
the heather do" Yet that is eXactl
what millions of people have don
and are doing every day with tn
Lords Prayer. They are just "rat
Ting it through" as a meaningless
repetition. Let us ask ourselves /
that is the way we use it.
Think over and discuss in tn,
class. what sort of a world this
would be if men did live according
to the Lords Prayer. In what re.
spects would life be different from
what it is today?
The Lords Prayer expresses an at
titude toward life. In our study to-
day, let us not be satisfied with
reading some beautiful thoughts
about it, but let us ask ourselves
how we may translate it into our
own experience. Notice some great
things which are emphasized in this
model prayer.
Reverence
The first clause of the Lords
Prayer, "Hallowed by thy name" !"
represents a reverent attitude not
only to God but to all of life. A dis
cussion of reverence is a timely one,
for many people are saying that life
today, as it is commonly lived, has
grievOusly lost the quality of rever-
ence. How true do you think that
criticism is?
Let those whose memories go back
thirty or forty years give their i'm
pressions. In many respects, it is
said that people, and especially
young people, have little place for
of any sort. What would
you say to the charge that irrever-
ance is quite prevalent in the atti-
tude of people toward God; in the
relation of the sexes; in the treat
ment of elderly people by the young;
in the prevalence of profanity; in
the somewhat contemptuous attitude
to high ideals of conduct?
Now, of course, the younger SEN
Grafton always suffers from harsh
criticism among those older. Every
new generation has probably been
charged with being frivolous and ir-
and a case can doubtless
be made that much of the so-called
boldness and irreverence in young
people today is really only frankness
and honesty in facing questions
which were formerly evaded. What
points would you bring out in re-
gard to the so-called younger gen
Grafton" today both in their defense
and possibly in criticism?
Jesus prayer, "Hallowed be thy
name" when it is made a constant
attitude of our heart and mind,
brings a real nobility into life. There
is a great difference in the atmos-
phere of a family which is reverent
in their attitude toward God and to-
ward each other, and one in which
life becomes a sordid scramble after
pleasure or personal advantage.
Without a real feeling OF reverence,
everything in life loses its luster and
becomes common.
The Kingdom
When we pray for the coming of
Gods abingdon, it ought to mean
that we strive to make love the rul-
ing principle of our lives. Just think |
of what it would mean if |
an employer of many .nen really HI- !
81 up 10 his prayer on Sunday, Thy |
kingdom cCme." It wOu.I mean that |
ne wanted the rule of love to be the
principle on which his factory was
'un. 1t would mean that he would
lot regard his employees merely as
means of amassing greater profits,
Dut that he would seek primarily
heir welfare and the service which
he business renders to other people.
IN the other hand, when an en-
loyee makes that prayer It should
lean that he does not look for op-
to get something for
othing, or get ahead of his fellows,
ut that in loyalty to his fellows he
eeks to work for the common good.
AXE the case of a woman who prays
Thy kingdom come" How can she
lake such a prayer sincerely if ',
lrge part of her satisfaction comes
ON a snObbish feeling Of superior ,
y over other people, if she INDUCES
er pride in vain display of any kind 4;
or has no interests beyond the 6
lmfort and the welfare of her own ,
)me?
What changes would be made in
our neighbOrhood if this prayer l.
ere really lived out? We ought not
pray for the Kingdom unless we
Ork for it.
Think of the anti-Christian things
your neighbOrhood. Are there any
ass distinctions? Are there any
ice antagonisms? Are there any
,ligious prejudices or hatreds
hich are skillfully played upon?
hat are you doing to eliminate
ese things? What can be done?
.ead Us Not Into TEMPTATION"
1t shows how well Jesus knew life
hen he put into the center of this
aver the ever-present temptations
hich men and women must meet.
nat prayer, Lead us not into temp
ton" ought to mean two things
st, that we deliberately and ener-
'tically avoid putting ourselves in
rcumstances of temptation; and
cOnd, that we take scrupulous care