The Model Prayer

Posted on January 9, 2026 by jesustrek

Right in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us what many Christians call “The Lord’s Prayer”. Many scholars refer to it as “The Model Prayer”, because it is an outline for how we should properly pray. Some have memorized it and quote it verbatim, often praying it together in a worship assembly. This is a fine practice, but the prayer can also be used as an outline to guide us through specific areas of prayer. Luke 11 has a shorter version of this prayer, but I want to follow the longer, more familiar version found in Matt.6:9-13.

Jesus starts out by saying that we can address God as our Father in heaven. What a marvelous privilege! Only Christians can pray in this manner. Those outside of Christ have no right to call on God in such a way. John 1:11 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Only through Jesus can we become God’s children and be able to refer to him as our Father.

Then Jesus says that we should pray that God’s name be hallowed, or honored. The world uses God’s name as a swear word. Far be it from us to do such a thing! Even slang G-words and J-words must be avoided at all costs. The name of God must never be trivialized! Instead, it must be revered. And it is not just our words that honor or dishonor God’s name. Our actions are important too. For a person to wear the name “Christian” and engage in behavior that is not Christlike is to dishonor the name of God.

Jesus then says that we ought to pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done. The kingdom of God is everything that is under his authority. We should pray that more and more people submit to his authority. Coinciding with his advancing kingdom is his will being done, that is, people obeying the principles laid out in the Bible.

Then we should pray for our daily bread. When the Israelites travelled through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God gave them manna from heaven. Remember how much he gave them? One day’s supply at a time. God wants us to trust him for our daily needs.

Next we see that we are to pray for forgiveness, but only based on how we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. This is a very dangerous prayer indeed! Those who harbor grudges cannot expect to have their prayers answered, nor their sins forgiven. Each of us have been forgiven much, and it cost the precious blood of Jesus to make that possible. It is only fitting that we extend to others the grace of forgiveness that God has so lovingly extended to us.

Then we are to pray that we are not led into temptation. Dennis the Menace once told his preacher, “I’m not led into temptation. I go there all by myself!” We all can find temptation quite easily. How necessary it is to pray that we are not led there, but are instead delivered from evil.

The prayer closes out on a worshipful note, giving God the glory and honor that only he deserves.

Let’s continue to follow the model that Jesus gave us to pray.

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I Am Resolved

Posted on January 2, 2026 by jesustrek

I hope it’s not too late to address the subject of New Year’s resolutions. I also hope that if you made any, you have been able to keep them so far!

It’s always a good idea to try to improve oneself, but it is easier said than done. I have a cousin who resolved to quit smoking last year. He got so much satisfaction from making that resolution that he has resolved to quit smoking again this year!

I have a friend who vowed to lose 10 pounds in 2025. He only fell short of his goal by 15 pounds!

It isn’t easy to keep our resolutions. I heard about a husband and wife who were sitting together and writing down some goals for the coming year. The wife said, “I am resolving to be less controlling this year. Honey, you should write that one down too!”

Seriously, it is good for Christians to try to make self-improvements. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.” (1 Tim.4:15).

Some people focus on resolutions to improve their health, such as losing weight, eating healthier foods and getting more exercise. Others give their attention to matters that seem more spiritual (although it is certainly spiritual for a Christian to maintain their body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit). They focus on spending more time praying, studying the Bible and obeying what the Bible says. All of this is good. 1 Tim.4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

You can’t argue with that. Improving ourselves has benefits for this life. We feel better and we set a good example for others to follow. However, the benefits also extend into eternity in ways that we will not fully understand until later.

Let’s remember that the ultimate goal of change is to become more like Jesus. 2 Cor.3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

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After Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2025 by jesustrek

What do you do after Christmas? (I mean besides paying bills and trying to lose weight!). The post-holiday season can be a letdown for many people. The excitement and merriment are past. Get-togethers with family and friends are over. The prospect of facing another year might be discouraging. There are many reasons why a person’s mental and emotional health might be at risk after Christmas. So, what can we do about it? Let’s look at the Scripture for some ideas.

In Matthew 2:1-12 we read about the wise men’s visit to the Christ child. Our long-held traditions have the wise men arriving at the manger where the baby Jesus was first placed. However, the Bible says that by the time they found him, Jesus and Mary were living in a house. They didn’t get to meet the Christ child until after Christmas.

The first thing we notice about the wise men is that they looked for Jesus so they could worship him (1:2). It has been said that wise people still seek him. Many people find their way to church on the Sunday before Christmas. Getting there on the Sunday after Christmas might be a different story! Seeking Jesus among his people seems like a logical thing to do. Seeking him in prayer and Bible study are great ideas also. After Christmas, remember to keep seeking Jesus.

After finding him, the wise men worshipped Jesus just as they had planned. Their worship included presenting him with expensive gifts—gold, frankincense and myrrh—gifts fit for a king (1:11). Hopefully, after Christmas you will have something to bring to Jesus. Many are satisfied with giving token gifts to the one they call their savior. Others, following the example of the wise men, give generous, or even extravagant gifts. Jesus says, “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). If you want to feel blessed, give a large donation to your church, or find some other way to present Jesus with an expensive gift.

Finally, the wise men listened to God and took a different way home than the route they had planned to take. Many people get on the wrong road in life because they stop listening to God. Don’t make that mistake! Read your Bible. Pay attention to sermons and Bible lessons. Listen to your Christian friends who give you godly advice. Listening to God will keep you on the straight and narrow highway and help you avoid sin and the pain that accompanies it.

To sum this up, after Christmas you should live a worshipful life by seeking Jesus, being generous and listening to God. All of this will help you to have a great new year!

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God’s Christmas Message

Posted on December 19, 2025 by jesustrek

Luke 2 records the message of Christmas. It starts with an angel of the Lord appearing to some shepherds. The word “angel” means “messenger”. The shepherds were terrified when they saw the angel. This is typical of what we see in the Bible when angels appear to people. The angel said that they should not be afraid because he was bringing them good news that would cause great joy.

Here is the content of the message—a Savior has been born, the Messiah, the Lord. Here we see both the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. He was born a human, yet he was the Lord. Jesus did not give up his deity when he came to earth to live among us. He was fully human, yet fully God. As Savior, this was how it must be. The only way we could be saved from our sins was for the Lord to offer himself as a sacrifice. His atoning death would serve to pay for the sins of the entire world. This baby who was placed in a manger would one day be placed on a cross to die for humankind. All who would receive him would receive God’s free gift of salvation.

The message was so compelling that the shepherds hurried off to see the Christ child for themselves. They found him just as the angel had said, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. There might have been other babies in Bethlehem at that time wrapped in cloths, but none would be lying in an animal’s feeding trough! The fulfillment of the angel’s words proved the truth of the message they had received from God.

The message didn’t stop here, however. Verses 17-18 tell us, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

The message about Jesus is truly amazing, and it is such good news that it cannot be silenced. The message needs to be spread far and wide that Jesus has come to us and he is the Savior of the world! This Christmas message from God can be trusted to be true. If we accept it we can experience the joy of salvation. If we share it we can spread that joy to others.

This Christmas season, listen for the message, because it is repeated over and over in many different ways. Through songs, Christmas cards, movies, television programs and many other ways, God’s Christmas message is everywhere. Let us never tire of hearing it and let us be diligent in doing our part in spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus!

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Holiday Thoughts

Posted on December 6, 2025 by jesustrek

The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are often times for reflection. Here are some random thoughts, and some Scriptures to go along with them. The thoughts may be a bit whimsical, but the Bible verses may be just what you need to hear.

Like many people, I tend to eat too much during the holiday season. We like to highlight those Bible verses that talk about feasting, and ignore the ones that speak about fasting. I really need to eat less than I have in past holiday seasons. Last year, I cut myself shaving right after Thanksgiving, and pure gravy trickled down the side of my cheek! So I’ve decided to make some changes this year. For one thing, I’ve taken up bird watching to occupy my time. So far I’ve spent most of my time staring at the huge bird that’s turning brown in the oven! I have promised myself that I won’t eat any leftovers this holiday season. Yes, that’s right—I’m quitting cold turkey. (Hey, be nice! I hear you groaning out there!)

The Bible warns us against the sin of gluttony. However, it also encourages times of feasting. There’s nothing wrong with splurging; just don’t let overeating become a habit. Proverbs 21:20 says, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

Some people try to make up for their overeating by starting a fitness routine. A few years ago, I called to ask about joining an exercise class. The instructor told me to wear loose fitting clothing. I replied, “If I had any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn’t need the class!” God’s word points out that …”physical training is of some value…” (1 Timothy 4:8). Exercise does not give you permission to overeat on a regular basis, but it certainly helps you maintain your health and strength. Maybe it’s time for you to get moving!

Other people use the holiday season to try to give up a bad habit. I have a friend who quit smoking last year. He tells me that the experience was so gratifying that he plans to quit smoking again this year! Would you like to put something behind you and move on to a better future? Perhaps Philippians 3:13-14 will give you some inspiration—“…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal…”

Isn’t it ironic that Black Friday follows Thanksgiving Day? We spend Thursday being thankful for all that we have. Then, the very next day, we get up at 4:00am to go fight the crowds and spend money for more stuff! Do you struggle to be content? Paul was in prison when he wrote, “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13).

Thanksgiving must be a very confusing holiday for atheists. They have all these feelings of gratitude, but no one to whom they can give thanks! That reminds me of the story of the atheist couple who had a child. They were determined to raise their son to be an atheist too. One night, when they were tucking the little fellow into bed for the night, he asked his parents, “Do you think God knows that we don’t believe in him?”

I hope that you believe in God, and I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Let’s look forward to a wonderful Christmas!

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His Indescribable Gift

Posted on November 26, 2025 by jesustrek

There is a verse of Scripture that I believe is the perfect segue from the Thanksgiving holiday to the Christmas season. It is 2 Corinthians 9:15, which says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”

The gift from God that is mentioned here is, of course, the gift of his Son Jesus. God loved the world, and everybody in it, so much that he sent his one and only Son Jesus to die on a cross to pay for the sins of mankind. Whoever truly believes in Jesus will not have to perish but will instead be given the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). At just the right time, when everything had been set in place, God sent his Son Jesus into the world (Galatians 5:4). And for that we are eternally grateful!

2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are an encouragement for the members of the church to be generous in gathering a collection to give to God’s people who were in need. Seen in its context, 9:15 directs us to the cross for our inspiration for giving. Our offerings are one very important way that we show our thanks to God for what he has given us in Jesus. In his amazing grace, God has offered us salvation in Jesus Christ and countless other blessings that are freely given. We could never repay God for what he has done for us. However, our lives should be dedicated to showing our appreciation to God for giving us the salvation that we all so desperately needed but could not in any way attain for ourselves.

We must not depend on the calendar to dictate our worship. We must strive to show every day our thanks to God for his indescribable gift. We must cultivate a heart of gratitude that is expressed in many ways, especially in our generosity.

So, as we make the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, let us be mindful of what God has given us in Jesus. And let us strive to show generosity to others, since God has been so generous to us.

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Being Thankful

Posted on November 21, 2025 by jesustrek

I am writing this on the Friday before Thanksgiving. This is the time of year when most people try to be as thankful as we should be all year long. It is also the time of year when we dig out the pants with the stretchy waistband, because we tend to overindulge at holiday meals.

We have so much to be thankful for! And it is right that we do so. The words “thank”, “thankful”, “thanksgiving” in some various forms occur in the Bible nearly 150 times. The Bible often urges us to give thanks. We Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth because of all the blessings and promises we have through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

One of the most commonly preached texts on thanksgiving is Luke 17:11-19, which records the account of Jesus healing ten men who had leprosy. Of the ten who were healed, only one returned to give Jesus thanks. From this Scripture we can glean several important truths about thanksgiving.

First, we should be quick to give thanks. As soon as the man realized he had been healed he came back to thank Jesus. Don’t put off being thankful. If we hesitate or procrastinate, we may fail to give thanks at all. If it isn’t a part of your nature already, cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Being thankful should come natural to those who have been blessed by Jesus.

Secondly, this man was quite vocal with his thanksgiving. The Scripture says that he praised God in a loud voice. Our gratitude should not be a secret between us and God. Others should hear our thanksgiving being expressed loudly and clearly.

Third, we need to notice that Jesus seems to expect us to be thankful. When only one man came back to thank Jesus for the healing that he had received, Jesus asked where the other nine were. Had they not been healed also? Where was their expression of thanksgiving? Jesus appears to be disappointed in their lack of gratitude. We should always strive to give the gratitude that Jesus expects and deserves, not just during the holiday season, but every single day of our lives.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”—Colossians 3:17.

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Excuses

Posted on November 7, 2025 by jesustrek

When drivers try to explain their automobile accidents, they sure can come up with some amazing excuses. Ann Landers gave these humorous examples from actual insurance reports provided to one insurance company.

“A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”

“The guy was all over the place. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”

“The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering into the other vehicle.”

“As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident.”

“The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.”

“To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.”

“An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle and vanished.”

“The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran him over.”

People certainly have the ability to come up with some fantastic excuses to try to explain away their poor driving. In the same way, people find some ridiculous excuses for not serving the Lord. While these insurance reports are kind of funny, it is no laughing matter to offer such excuses to God.

Let’s be careful that we do our best to worship and serve the Lord. Let’s offer no excuses.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”—1 Corinthians 15:58.

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Be an Encourager!

Posted on October 30, 2025 by jesustrek

It has been said that discouragement is one of the devil’s greatest tools. I agree with that statement. If Satan doesn’t succeed in destroying you, he will settle for keeping you from becoming all that God intends for you to be.

Discouraged people are all around us. Various circumstances of life can bring them down and prevent them from living productive lives for Jesus Christ. They need someone to encourage them to be the best they can be.

Barnabas was a great encourager in the early days of the church. As a matter of fact, his given name was Joseph, but his actions earned him the nickname “Barnabas”, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36).

Let’s look at how Barnabas lived and see if we can determine what made him such a great encourager.

First, he was outrageously generous. Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the money to the church leaders so that it could be used to take care of Christians who were in need (Acts 4:32-37). Surely you can remember a time in your life when someone helped you financially when you were in need. That was encouraging, wasn’t it? Now consider any opportunity you might have to encourage someone else with outrageous generosity.

Second, Barnabas was a joyful person. When he was sent to visit the church at Antioch, he was glad to see all that God was doing in this new, vibrant church (Acts 11:23). Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Maybe the best way you can encourage others is to let them see the joy that abides in the heart of someone who trusts Jesus Christ for their salvation. Jesus gives his followers a joy that the world can’t give, a joy that does not depend on our circumstances. Joy, like misery, can be contagious. Let’s make it a practice to spread the joy of Jesus to people who need some encouragement.

Third, Barnabas encouraged Christians to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts (Acts 11:23). Many believers get so discouraged that their faith falters. There is always the need for the voice that says, “Don’t give up! Keep going! God will see you through whatever is going on in your life right now. There is a great reward for those who remain faithful to the end!” What greater encouragement could you possibly give than to persuade people to continue steadfast in their commitment to Jesus Christ?

Next, we see that Barnabas helped Saul get involved in church work (Acts 11:25-26). Many people are looking for something significant to do with their lives. They will be encouraged if you help them get involved in the greatest thing going on in the universe today—building the church! Think about someone you can help to find their place in the service of the Lord.

Finally, Barnabas taught people the word of God (Acts 11:26). In this world filled with darkness, people need the light of God’s word. You don’t have to be an official teacher with a class of students in order to teach someone a truth from Scripture. We have opportunities every day to encourage people by helping them understand better what the Bible says and how they can apply that to their lives.

Here we see several ways that we can encourage others. In this world that is filled with so much discouragement, let’s do our best to encourage people for the cause of Christ!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”—1 Thess. 5:11.

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Salt and Light

Posted on October 17, 2025 by jesustrek

Remember the old saltshaker prank? Someone would loosen the top of a salt shaker in a restaurant. The next customer would unsuspectingly try to put a little salt on their food and end up dumping the entire contents of the shaker on their plate!

It doesn’t take a lot of salt to make a meal taste better. Just a pinch of salt can make the ingredients of a dish really come to life.

In the same way, we don’t have to dump everything we have on people all at once in order to be effective in spreading the gospel message. If fact, sometimes, in giving them too much all at once, it becomes overwhelming for them, like a dish with way too much salt.

We have to be discerning about how much of God’s truth to unload on people at one time. Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth (Matt.5:13). Let’s try to give them just enough salt to make the truth of salvation through Jesus palatable for them.

Jesus also says that we are the light of the world (Matt.5:14). We shine the light of Jesus into this dark, sinful world so that people can find their way to salvation through Jesus.

Bob Goff says, “We can be the light of the world without leaving our high beams on and annoying everybody.”

Regardless of what you may have heard, I am still able to drive after dark. However, I must admit that I occasionally forget to dim my lights for oncoming drivers. Sometimes they will flash their bright lights at me to remind me to dim mine.

I think Bob Goff has a point. Sometimes we Christians can be abrasive in expressing our opinions about God. This can turn some people off and hamper our efforts to spread the gospel.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that our ultimate goal is to avoid annoying people. Jesus annoyed some people. You don’t get nailed to a cross because you got along with everybody!

However, we must always try to speak the truth in love. It only takes a little light to lead someone out of the darkness. Let us always strive to shine our light in the most effective way possible.

“…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.

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