Round the Sphere Again: Three

Petitions
“Right now, there are people laboring for the Lord in difficult parts of the world, trying to advance the gospel. The outcome of their effort is connected to the work of prayer on their behalf … . ” —From Three ways to pray for missionaries at the Cripplegate.

Questions
Eric Raymond writes, “Why is it so hard [to love one another]? It is hard because sin complicates things. My sin makes me unloving and unlovely and others’ sin makes them unloving and unlovely.” He gives three questions for us to ask to help us find the motivation we need to love others:

1. Who am I?
2. Who are they?
3. What does the gospel bid me do?

Read the whole post for more (Ordinary Pastor).

In-One
David Murray tackles the question, “How can I explain the Trinity to a small child without moralistic illustrations or logical arguments that go over their head?” All good suggestions—and notice: no mention of an egg or a three leaf clover (Ligonier Ministries Blog).  

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Questions about Prayer

122. Q. What is the sixth petition [of the Lord’s prayer]?
          A. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”1

123. Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
          A. That God will keep us from sin.

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1In a bit of providential serendipity, today’s Monday with Mounce column is commentary on this phrase.

But what does it mean to “lead us not into temptation” (καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν)? We all know that God does not tempt us (James 1:13-14), and we know that testing can be good for us (James 1:2) — the two interpretive positions on πειρασμόν. So what does this phrase mean, and why would Jesus conclude his model prayer with something so difficult to understand?

Read “And don’t let us yield to temptation” - Mt 6:13.

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(Click through to read scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday's Hymn: Speak, O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us 
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• And Can It Be at By Grace Alone
• When I Survey the Wonderful Cross at Gospel Grace
• Abide With Me at The Happy Wonderer
• Voices From the Past #10 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 10, 2013 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Gold rush!
• The Lord’s Day Prayer at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.