Untitled article by Elder R. A. Underwood

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 9, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 23.

THE LORD'S PRAYER. NO. 3.

By Elder R. A. Underwood

BY ELDER R. A. UNDERWOOD.

"GIVE us this day our daily bread." Here the term "bread" is used as a symbol of all the life-sustaining elements necessary to man's physical and spiritual wants. Notice, the petition asks not for man's future needs but for "this day." A merchant in a Western State advertised over his counter: "To-day we sell our goods for cash; to-morrow we give them away." He was safe; to-morrow never comes. All that we need is to-day. This prayer is the fullest expression of a living faith in our God. Oh, that we might grasp, the perfect trust that is expressed in this petition! Then there would be no worrying about the future.

The most of the trouble in this world is that which comes only in our imagination. We make ourselves miserable, and everyone around us, by worrying and fretting about something that we are afraid is going to happen, or about what we are to eat, drink, or wear. When we have done what we can in God's order, why should we worry? All this fear, and miserable, wearing, anticipated trouble, is of Satan. Why should we borrow trouble of the father and dispenser of all trouble? But this is what millions are doing all the time. If we have been dealing in this kind of traffic, let us stop right where we are, and henceforth believe that our Father is able and ready to supply "our daily bread." Thus we shall know that "perfect love casteth out fear," and with the fear will go all the torment of our lives. Why not let it go? We have read what God has said on this point, but we have not half believed that God meant just what he said. Let us read it again:—

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? . . . Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . . for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6: 25–33.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Ps. 84: 11.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Rom. 8: 28.

It is not God's plan or will to give us grace to-day for to-morrow. He gives grace for to-day, for the present, now, and this is all that we shall ever need.

It is said of one of the martyrs that, while he was being led from the dungeon to the stake, he was asked by his persecutors, with the hope that he would recant, if he were ready to be burned for his faith. He replied, "No, I am not; but I have grace to be led to the stake." When he reached the place of execution, the same question was repeated. His reply was, "No, but I have grace to be tied." When this was done, the same was repeated. He replied, "No, but I now have grace to have the fagots piled around me." When this was done, the officer said, "Are you ready to be burned for your faith?" He still replied, "No, but you can light the fire if you wish." One that stood by said, "If God gives grace in your expiring moments equal to your need, lift your hands toward heaven." Slowly, but surely, the flames did their work, and by and by the hands of the trusting servant of God were lifted heavenward. Blessed be God that, where sin abounds, grace does "much more abound." So when trials and persecutions abound, grace does much more abound if we trust God as a "present help in trouble." Ps. 46: 1.

Present help is all that we need now, or ever will need, and we have the promise of present help if we seek it by faith. Then away with all the dark forebodings of the dark future. Let us live in the sunlight of God's present blessings.

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." In this we ask God to forgive us our sins against him as we forgive those that sin against us. We sometimes hear it said that this is a dangerous prayer to ask of God. But it matters not whether we ask God to deal with us in the same manner that we do with our fellow-men or not, God will act on this principle with us when our case comes up for final judgment. Many go through this life with hatred in their hearts and holding grudges against their neighbors or brethren, yet they expect that God will take them into heaven with the pure and lovely at last. Oh, what a disappointment such are doomed to experience when it is too late to forgive those who may have wronged them!

Few study the word of God upon this point; nevertheless, God speaks clear and positive upon it: "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any [why?]; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mark 11: 25. "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge standeth before the door." James 5: 9.

Do you not see that the promise of forgiveness is predicated upon the fact that we forgive if we have "ought against any"? We are to forgive, it matters not whether we are asked to do so or not. God deals with us on the principle of mercy, treating us better than we deserve. He prayed for those who put him to death, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23: 34. It is often the case when we are injured by others that they know not or realize not

what they have done. When we hold this against them, or demand that they shall humble themselves before us and ask our forgiveness before we forgive them, we in this sever our connection with Christ, and are lost, lost to all eternity, unless we repent of this sin and forgive them from the heart. We can turn the injury over to Christ, and this we will do if we are his, and his life is in us. Then the injury is done to Christ and not to us. Why not, then, let Christ take care of all such matters? We can safely leave it with him to deal with the individual. Oh, what a load this would take from many a sad heart! This is what James 2:13 means: "Judgment is merciless for him who has not practiced mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." (Emphatic Diaglott.) When we practice this way of disposing of all our injuries, real or imaginary (and many are only imaginary), then mercy and love triumph over this wicked spirit of judging our fellow-creatures. Praise God that we can pray, with a depth of meaning and in faith, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."