Thursday, May 22, 2008

Ephesians 3:14-15

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." NIV

We have lost the habit of kneeling. I remember as a child kneeling for what felt like hours during a prayer meeting. The floor was either hard wood or only had a thin carpet on it with no padding. We'd lean our elbows on wooden pews shifting constantly to find a more comfortable position. I don't miss the painful knees, but I do miss the reverence I felt when all His children in that sanctuary were on their knees before the king.

Kneeling before the King acknowledges that He is Master and Lord and that we are humbling ourselves as His servants. All across cultures kneeling is a sign of submission to authority. Even Jesus knelt in the garden before His Father. I know I humbly come before God in my heart, but maybe I need to get down on my knees more to act out that submission and have a physical reminder of who's in control of my life. Lord, I never want my attitude toward You to be one of arrogance and control. Keep me humbled before You as my Lord and Master of all each and every day.

Further Thoughts:

  1. With a concordance, look up the passages with kneel, kneeling or prostrate.
  2. Read Luke 22:39-46. How is kneeling symbolic of what Jesus is praying here?
  3. Spend some time on your knees in prayer each day, even if for a sentence or two, to remind you of your submission to the King.

1 comment:

  1. Love the childhood reference - brought up Wednesday night prayer meetings when I was a kid. Long, interminable at that age but even then I knew something big was going on!

    lj

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